Volunteer for Primates in Africa - DARWIN PRIMATE GROUP D.P.G.

CO-EXISTING WITH BABOONS AND MONKEYS. PRESENTATION.

2015-05-03T21:38:00.000+02:00

2012-02-04T15:15:00.001+01:00

2012-02-04T15:13:00.002+01:00

"Let Nature Take Its Course"

2012-02-01T06:41:00.002+01:00

Madonna - wild female:

Photography by Rick Hemi http://www.rickhemi.com

Madonna was part of the wild baboon troop who visit us regularly. I met her a few years ago for the first time, but back then, she was hard to observe as she hid away deep in the forest and was clearly fearful of strangers. Over time, she realised I was no threat and began to show herself. Her hip area was a mass of scars, causing her to walk in a jagged, obstructed manner. But she had many allies, hung out with a group of caring females and juveniles and certainly seemed to have adapted to her injuries.

She arrived here one day after being attacked by a male baboon, her wounds seeping from the very place where her old scars lived. As always when faced with a wild injured primate, I ask myself whether it is possible to intervene or whether "nature" should take its course. The dilemma with the "let nature take its course"concept, meaning that we should leave well alone no matter how much suffering may occur, is that rarely do we define what "nature" has become to those of us who live alongside it. The abyss between our human selves and the wild we have been forcefully separated from, has become impossible to bridge and yet intrinsically we remain interconnected and symbiotic.

The DPG acts as a sanctuary - a haven for both the wild primates brought here as well as the wild animals that visit. We are surrounded by farmers and residents who threaten to shoot any so called "problem animal" that crosses their property. We also have resident poachers on the property who set traps allowing any wild victim to die a slow, tortuous death, driving us to do regular anti poaching patrols. And yet this agriculturally zoned area, whereby wild animals wander at great risk, borders a protected reserve without fences to keep the wildlife away.

The impression I have been shown over the years is that in spite of the predators here (raptors, leopard, honey badger, caracal etc.), far more wildlife falls prey to human intervention. Primates are electrocuted, run over by cars, caught in poacher's traps, poisoned, shot with pellet guns and are bullets. As a result, populations are damaged by humans, habitats are destroyed and biodiversity is a dream that seems impossible to ever return.

In this context, is it not our duty to help every situation we can?

Everything we have has been taken from the earth..is ithe time for us to give back not long overdue?

How do we define "nature" when we have remodelled it to such an extent it is no longer recognisable?

Madonna leaving after being treated at the DPG for her wounds:

And this is why, when I come across a case like Madonna - pictured above - I am unable to stand back, and ignore our human connection to the rest of nature, and let "nature" take its course.

Harmonious Co-existence - Hyaenas and Humans

2012-01-15T14:53:00.029+01:00

Once upon a time, way back in my childhood, our family took the annual visit to the Kruger Park. Soon after the fire's coals had died one night, and our group headed off to find their sleeping bags laid out under the stars, one of the children had part of his nose taken off by a hyaena.

He survived.

His nose healed.

That memory and another - whereby a hyaena allegedly drank too much wine in a remote bush village, then went on a rampage killing a number of people - have thankfully not overshadowed the more gentle and prolific memories I have of watching hyaenas in the wild.

The lure of their mystery compels.

The call of the hyaena has the capacity to touch ancient, primordial parts of our human selves when delivered from the depth of African wilderness. But it is the negative stories, that all too often, leave an impression on those of us who have had no close contact with wild species.

We are left with the odd, unusual anecdote and tons of derogatory myths designed by humans.

These misconceptions allow us to make broad assumptions and generalise about other species.

Yet those who get closer, often paint a vivid opposing story. Some of us are entirely comfortable with finding harmonious ways to co-exist with predators like lions, bears or hyaenas. Others with snakes,or the less dangerous but challenging omnivorous primates.

This seems to be possible once we learn their language, their laws, their ways...when we practice tolerance, patience and a willingness to look at the big picture. And all too often, when this happens, we realise how lacking human knowledge can be.

While a number of residents find co-existing with wild primates inconvenient and unacceptable, there are communities - in other parts of Africa - that have found a way to co-exist with the wildest of predators.

Is it simply a matter of attitude?

Or the degree of human arrogance?

Is it as easy as breaking down our walls of perception......those age-old misconceptions we have been lulled into believing are fact?

To find out more about the interface between humans and hyaenas, visit Marcus Baynes-Rock's blog site below.

It will make you wonder about far more than what you came here for....

Co-existing With Hyenas in Harar, Ethiopia:

Quote: Marcus Baynes-Rock:

"Today,these animals, because of their size, their range requirements andtheir habit of preying on people and livestock, have been persecutedand driven to the point of extinction and beyond in many cases. It istestimony to their natural intelligence and their adaptiveness thatmany of these species have managed to persist in the face of humanpersecution and that many have recovered where governments and localpopulations have so allowed them.

My current research isfocused on the spotted hyenas in a town in Ethiopia. Harar is anancient Muslim city surrounded by a wall that was built in the 16thcentury to protect the town’s inhabitants from hostileneighbours. However, the city wall has holes incorporated intoit, to enable access for the spotted hyenas that live in the hillsaround the town. For centuries hyenas have entered the town at night to‘clean up’ the refuse that the townspeople produce and the hyenas havefound their way into the town’s traditions, folklore and even itsemerging tourist industry. Harar is an unusual example ofreconciliation and mutual understanding between humans and largecarnivores that raises questions about western ideas of exclusion ofwild mammals from urban environments.

For further information about my research in Harar, visit my blog."

REHABILITATION IN SOUTH AFRICA - OBSTACLES AND SOLUTIONS.

2012-01-11T09:48:00.003+01:00

OBSTACLESTO THE REHABILITATION OF VERVET MONKEYS AND CHACMA BABOONS BACK INTOTHE WILD:

-Popular misconceptions about the baboon and monkey that areperpetuated by inadequate and contradictory legislation.

-Ambiguous messages conveyed to the public due to loopholes inlegislation.

- Policy that does not allow these species to bereleased beyond an arbitrary and scientifically flawed limit of100km radius of rehabilitation centres in the WC. Thispointless limitation makes finding safe, appropriate release sitesalmost impossible in the Western Cape and impacts adversely on animalwelfare.

- Policy that treats provinces as mini-sovereignstates, and rigidly prevents these species from being imported andexported between provinces. Taking the small amount of rescue andrehab centres in SA into consideration, this law places greatlimitations on the rehabilitation of these primates back into thewild.

- An alleged failure on the part of provincialconservation authorities to consider the relevance of scientificpapers that dispute the issue
of genetic pollution.
INADEQUATELEGAL PROTECTION:

Contradictory Legislation:

Inmy dealings with members of the public, I have found that thecontradictory message conveyed encourages the public to treatprotection of wildlife as nonsensical, resulting in these laws beingwidely disobeyed.These laws therefore directly impact on the large amount of vervetmonkeys and baboons being shot, of orphans that result from thispractice and of monkeys being illegally kept as pets.

POPULARMISCONCEPTIONS:Popularprejudice against our wild primates is one of the most influentialreasons for the manner in which the public treats them. Thesemisconceptions need to be educated out of our culture, notperpetuated by problem animal control attitudes.

One exampleof a common misconception – Rabies:

Fearsthat Vervets are carriers of rabies or other infectious diseases thatcan be transmitted to humans are unfounded. Like us, vervets areprimates – if they carried rabies, we would be carriers too. Anymammal is able to contract rabies though.

According to MonkeyHelpline of EKZN, the state vet reported that no vervet monkey rabiescase has ever been recorded.

INADEQUATESPONSORSHIP OF REPUTABLE REHABILITATION CENTRES:Consideringthat conservation policies and public misconceptions directly impacton the
widespread abuse of these primate species, reputablesanctuaries and rehabilitation centres should perhaps be able toexpect more support from the government in terms of sponsorship and awillingness to consider more protective legislation that isactively
enforced to ensure the work of these centres has thepotential to progress in the best interests of the species andbiodiversity.

This is far from the case. To date, we havefound that a number of “awareness centres” or 'sanctuaries”with commercial agendas (whereby wild animals are allegedly traded,bred, petted by the public or worse, while the public is manipulatedinto believing these are reputable sanctuaries acting in the bestinterests of the animals, are the centres that are most likely to befinancially viable.

In short, conservation policies areencouraging the proliferation of commercially exploitive 'wildlifecentres' who have concluded that the most practical manner to runa
rescue centre is to exploit animals while simultaneously beingseen to be “rescuing and rehabilitating” them.

Thisis far from being an ideal situation for the many orphaned andinjured animals who need rescue and protection.

THE PRESENTREALITY:Thereare over 600 baboons awaiting rehabilitation and over 700 vervetmonkeys at the two most established primate sanctuaries in SouthAfrica. The backlog of orphans residing at these centres is anindication of how severe the problem is and indicates:

-thelack of safe, appropriate release sites available, and the failure ofconservation services to pro-actively promote and assist with, troopreleases.

-The number of wild primates orphaned due to thepopular notion that they are “worthless” animals

-Theinadequate financial support offered by government.

SOLUTION:Thebest answer to this widespread problem would be for conservationauthorities to adopt a far more supportive role towards rehabcentres, and to take animal welfare far more seriously. Theyshould also remove onerous policy conditions, and promote uniform andprotective legislation that is strongly enforced by them.

Thissolution would ensure that this species are no longer persecuted,seen to be worthless and less orphans and pets would be the result.The pressure on present rescue and rehabilitation centres would belessened and full release back into the wild would become far moreviable.

URGENT APPEAL FOR ORPHANED BABOONS - WESTERN CAPE.

2011-11-26T09:58:00.014+01:00

Orphaned baboons in the Western Cape need urgent help: this province has no official baboon rehabilitation centre or sanctuary.

South Africa's nine provinces each follow independent conservation laws and baboons are not allowed to be exported or imported between provinces. In fact primate centres in the Western Cape are even more severely restricted as they're only allowed to take in wild primates within a 100km radius of the centre.

The orphan below was brought to us as a baby - on a dog leash - by a farmer and his wife.

“ Have you ever touched him, I asked.

“No”.

He'd been passed onto them after his mother was shot by a farmer and as is often the case, his new guardians had little idea about what it takes to nurture a wild primate. Feeding him on dog biscuits, sleeping outdoors in a cage alone next to the dog quarters and isolated from his own kind, his future was heading in a dysfunctional direction. If this situation had continued for much longer, he would very likely have picked up some permanent behavioural problems making it too late for him to adapt socially with his own species. Thankfully the couple brought him to the DPG where he has interacted with both wild and orphaned baboons semi-free within an indigenous environment with natural food sources, predators and other wild species.

We appeal to the public to help us establish enough infrastructure to expand our vervet monkey rescue/rehab centre to include baboons. At present, orphaned baboons when found by members of the public are advised to “euthanase” them by the authorities. Without a sustainable way to ensure these primates a future in the wild, euthanasia seems to be the most practical solution for most.

IF YOU COME ACROSS AN ORPHANED MONKEY OR BABOON, NO MATTER WHAT PROVINCE YOU ARE IN, PLEASE CONTACT US FOR ADVICE. WE WILL PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH A REPUTABLE REHABILITATION CENTRE IN YOUR AREA.

The importance of touch for any orphaned primate - whether the orphan receives hands-on nurturing from a monkey or surrogate human - cannot be underestimated. Without it, the individual is likely to develop behaviour problems that will make it impossible to employ the necessary social skills for later life with his/her own kind.

The Importance of Touch:

About Harry Harlow: taken from the book THE MONKEY WARS by Deborah Blum.

" An innovative researcher who had made love and affection subjects to take seriously in science. His approach was very direct: the easiest way to investigate a loving heart is to break it: the shortest cut to explore a relationship is to sever it. After all, loss, grief, fear, stress are visible, measurable reactions. So Harlow took monkeys away from their mothers and measured their response: he isolated them from other companions: he shut them , alone, into devices that would have trapped a Houdini. He kept them there for months. His work made the importance of touch unforgettable."

It astounds me - as someone who takes in orphaned monkeys and baboons and acts as surrogate mother - that anyone would need to conduct such cruel experiments to understand the importance of touch. You'd have to be blind and emotionally retarded not to get the undeniable emotions that these related primates convey. The fear of anthropomorphism has blinded some to the truth.

"The only thing I care about is whether the monkeys will turn out a property I can publish. I don't have any love for them. Never have. I despise cats. I hate dogs. How could you like monkeys "

"It is much more mature intellectually than a human at birth, and it has a degree of motor control that a child takes months to acquire....We can submit them to conditions that cannot be imposed on human beings. We can expose them to long periods of social and sensory deprivation...We can also damage their brains." Harry Harlow on monkeys.

Harry Harlow 1974.

SNARES - WESTERN CAPE, GARDEN ROUTE.

2011-11-09T07:34:00.006+01:00

Snares around poverty stricken areas that border on wild habitats in South Africa are on the increase. While some consider primates to be bushmeat, for others eating wild primate meat has become a trend: snaring does not discriminate and the poacher will eat any animal found in his/her trap. We ask all landowners and tenants living in these conditions to please practice regular anti-poaching patrols on your land and surrounding areas to confront the problem.

Educating the poachers is necessary too, as is taking the consequences of poverty into consideration.

The video below depicts Joseph's story. He is a young male baboon who was caught in a snare close by. Once again I do want to thank Dr Rolf Lamprecht of Knysna for helping dart the baboon and take the snare off free of charge.

November 2011 - Another snare victim: this female baboon was helped by the DPG and is now healthy, free and back with her family.

HOME WILD BABOONS PLAYING WITH OUR REHABILITATED FREE ROAMING MONKEY TROOP.

2011-08-06T11:37:00.005+02:00

The common notion around here appears to be that: baboons are enemies of vervets. Apparently it is as simplistic as that. After doing a lot of hands-on research amongst wild vervet and baboon troops, I have come to the conclusion that these species form symbiotic relationships more often than is commonly assumed - that they certainly will become hostile enemies when resources are being competed for but when that is removed from the equation, they are quite capable of becoming real friends.

In my experience - when watching baboons along the Garden Route, there is enough vegetable food available for them not to resort to meat eating generally. The baboons here tend to choose a vegetarian diet above all else.They therefore cannot be described as predators and their relationship to other primates (vervets and humans for example) is more about sharing respources.

With this being a highly adaptive species, it makes sense that in certain areas and a different context they may adapt to killing for food but on the whole, I am going to conclude that that behaviour is an adaptive one.

One day I came across a single adult male vervet hanging out on the periphery of a baboon troop. I followed them for a while and the baboons seemed quite content with the monkey who apparently - as a single male - was relying them to find natural foods and to warn him of any potential threats. I wonder how common this inter-species interaction is in the wild?The troops in this video are a free roaming semi-rehabilitated vervet monkey troop and a wild baboon troop. They share a territory and have bonded over time, as individuals who understand each other's language.(When this footage was shot, there were no orphaned baboons at the rehabilitation centre).

BABOONS THAT RAID HUMAN PROPERTIES:

2011-08-06T10:49:00.002+02:00

ABOUT BABOONS THAT RAID HUMAN PROPERTIES:

To understand why baboons enter human properties and raid, it is necessary to understand their behaviour. Firstly, this species is highly adaptive – they adapt to their environment accordingly. This means that when humans encroach on baboon territory to build houses, roads and erect electric pylons, the baboons that have been there for a very long time are forced to adapt to the changes. They were there first – they have been around for hundreds of years more than humans have. It is a common mistake to assume baboons came “down from the mountains” to “steal” from human properties; all too often residents complain: “they must go back to the mountain where they belong”.

Research has illustrated that baboons tend to sleep in high areas but forage in low ones where food sources are more nutritional and as humans tend to live in the low areas, we find ourselves sharing a territory with baboons.

It is natural behaviour for baboons to adapt to their changing environment even when that environment is a human one forced on them.

Why do baboons enter human properties?

The short answer is they are attracted onto human properties that have been erected in their territories because these are age old baboon foraging paths natural food sources have been replaced with tasty, special food they can't get anywhere else. Baboons will be attracted to exotic fruit trees, vegetable gardens, compost heaps, garbage,, horse/cow feed.... and will also be tempted to enter houses which display human foods.

How do I stop them from entering my property?

By removing or adapting the attraction that is bringing them there. See our educational material on how to do this.

Does shooting a troublesome baboon stop them from raiding?

No. This has never worked. The problem continues.

Why does this not stop them from raiding?

Usually it is the adult males that get shot and often it is the alpha male. Because this male has not been alone in making the decision but has acted on behalf of the whole troop, you would be shooting him simply for playing the role which is expected of him – that being to scout out a human property to check if there is available food for the WHOLE troop. When an alpha male gets shot, a new male will take his place and be expected by the troop to play the same role. If the troop chooses to raid, the new male will follow their lead and will scout out human properties to check on food sources. (See the video below).

The Rogue Males:

Generally residents shoot a baboon they have been led to believe is a 'rogue”. The concept of a rogue baboon is based on misconceptions about baboon behaviour that have been passed down through the centuries. Residents may see one or two males on their properties on a regular bases and are likely to assume these are “rogue males” who have no troop. This is rarely the case.

Male baboons leave their birth troops for the first time during puberty to join a new group. During this stage they are extremely vulnerable and have no grooming partners or troop leaders to protect and guide them. As a result they may be drawn to raiding human homes. The process of joining a new troop can take a few months, so if residents are patient, the baboon will move on in time.

Residents are also likely to be fooled into thinking that they have one or two rogue male baboons on their property when a troop decides to enter a human area to raid. See the video below). In this case, the top two males may go into the human area to check on food sources for the whole troop. Residents seeing only one or two males tend to assume these are single males without a group. While these males check on the area, the troop is usually hidden from human view. It is a misconception to assume these two males are leading the troop top raid. They are merely their job – playing the role that is expected from the whole group. To remove them from the troop merely causes enormous disruption to the group. New males will move in, relationships will be turbulent and the resulting stress will effect all related systems.

More misconceptions about troublesome raiders:

Wild Primates – vervet monkeys and baboons eat according to a strict hierarchy – those at the top of the hierarchy get first access to favourite foods. When you have a fruit tree in season on your property and a baboon or monkey troop arrives to eat, the top members of the hierarchy will eat the fruit while those on the lower end will be left to wait. It is all too easy to assume the top members are trouble makers when you see them eating your fruit tree.

While the top hierarchy may be eating your fruit tree, the lower members may go off separately to find food elsewhere where the others can't see them.

In Nature's Valley, a baboon was allegedly stuck in a house for 6 hours and then shot (illegally as apparently occurs annually). The probably explanation for this baboon choosing to stay inside was not merely that there were hostile people waiting outside for him but also higher ranking baboons from his troop that would punish him for entering a favourite food spot.

BABOONS DO LEAVE THEIR TROOPS - TEMPORARILY - TO SEEK FOOD.

What happens when you shoot a whole troop:

When you shoot a whole troop, you leave a vacuum for a new troop to move into that territory. If residents continue to attract baboons and monkeys with exotic foods or human junk food, the new troop will eventually start to raid these too.

Giving Your Power Away:

Feeding by hand causes enormous problems as it shows the primates that you are being submissive. In a wild primate troop, one only gives up your food to those lower than you on the hierarchy – feeding these animals by hand, gives the message that you are giving away your power. This results in them expecting food from you in the future. Wild primates do not feed each other. Not even mothers give their infants food other than the milk they have to offer.

VIDEO BELOW SHOWS HOW A BABOON TROOP IN NATURE'S VALLEY PLANS ON ENTERING TO FIND FOOD:

Are Baboons Predators?

One of the common misconceptions about baboons is that they are far more dangerous than they are in practice. One reason is that people believe them to be predators who prey on other animals. We have found along the Garden Route that baboons will choose to eat vegetable matter over any flesh if it is available which in this part of the world, it definitely is.

In areas where baboons have adapted to eating meat it is because they have been pressurised by their environment – for example, a baboon may kill a baby gazelle in areas where vegetable food sources are scarce because it is their natural behaviour to adapt to the food source that is available there. It is therefore incorrect to assume that this largely vegetarian species is a predator. They certainly do not eat humans and usually have no reason to attack them unless severely provoked/cornered. In areas where they are forced to desperately compete with people for food, and when humans have lost their power by feeding the baboons by hand, a baboon may become more aggressive than normal to obtain food (for example in the Cape Peninsula). Usually this is merely a threat without any intent to physically harm. Please read our information about how to deal with these situations in a way that brings no harm to yourself or the baboon.

MONKEY BURNT TO DEATH IN KAGISO - May 30 2011

2011-05-31T10:39:00.001+02:00

Monkey burnt to death in Kagiso

Animal welfare group Claw has called the burning to death of a vervet monkey in Kagiso 'barbaric'. Picture: Jennifer Bruce

A Vervet monkey was burnt to death in Kagiso informal settlement, west of Joburg, after residents believed it was linked to witchcraft, The Star newspaper reported on Monday.

“In an incident described as 'barbaric' by the Community-led Animal Welfare (Claw), residents chanted 'kill that witch!',” The Star said.

It reported that the monkey wandered into the settlement last Monday, May 23, and was pelted with stones, shot at by police, and then burnt to death.

The monkey fled the mob and temporarily found shelter in a tree, but was pulled out, put in a bucket and doused in petrol.

“Someone struck a match. (The monkey) got out of the bucket and dropped down dead. They continued throwing stones at it,” Kagiso resident, Tebogo Moswetsi was reported as saying.

Moswetsi was woken up by a friends on Monday morning and told about the monkey, they said it was going around Kagiso “talking to people”.

He said he joined in the case as he was curious. He was the resident that climbed the tree and brought the monkey down.

“I feel guilty, I shouldn't have taken it down from that tree. I dropped it down after someone poured petrol on it. I had no choice,” Moswetsi said.

Claw manager, Cora Bailey, arrived at the scene and said she was devastated.

“I felt devastated. You could barely tell it had been a living creature. There were very small children who looked very confused and frightened.”

Bailey explained animals fell victim to superstition, especially because they did not understand that such animals wander into townships because their natural habitat was destroyed or it was separated from its troop.

“It was a quest to find a family,” she said.

Johannes Bapela, also a Kagiso resident, called Bailey after calls to police failed to deliver results, he told The Star.

“They beat it up, then set it alight. I couldn't sleep that night because it was too traumatic,” he said.

He called the claims of witchcraft “totally baseless” and added it was more mob mentality than anything else.

Warrant Officer Solomon Sibiya could not confirm that police shot at the animal, the newspaper reported.

“I enquired, but I don't think it's something that was reported,” Sibiya was quoted as saying. – Sapa

Comments on the new draft Policy on “DAMAGE CAUSING ANIMALS” - Jan 2011:

2011-01-12T10:21:00.002+01:00

Comments on the new draft Policy on “DAMAGE CAUSING ANIMALS”:

Karin Saks

The new draft policy makes it legal for DCAs to be hunted with permits allowing the use of poison, bait, traps, leghold devices, dog packs, etc. Lures and bait are allowed, and it is acceptable to hunt from a motor vehicle, using spotlights at night.

OBJECTIONS:
There is no consideration whatsoever to the welfare of “Damage Causing Animals”. Instead, there are blatant attempts to legalise exceptionally cruel, inhumane methods that place the control of wildlife firmly in the hands of farmers/forestors and other business driven individuals whose main priority is financial gain, regardless of the expense done to the environment/biodiversity.

As a result, this draft policy reads as a thinly disguised document to protect the rights of those who place financial interest above the health of the environment. Conservation officials are generally understood to be protectors of our environment, not protectors of certain sectors of society that seek to destroy it. The draft illustrates once again to the world that South African government conservation is in a bad state of affairs in terms of its policies and welfare of wildlife. This view is likely to impact negatively on tourism in South Africa, as informed international eco-tourists are increasing only wanting to visit places where compassionate conservation exists.

Legislation that has been described as “applicable” is often outdated; some of the acts mentioned, are forty to eighty years old. The outdated Animal Protection Act does little if anything to protect wild animals and seems to be referred to for one reason only – as a token act to cover up what is truly a document that upholds inhumane methods to deter so called “damage causing animals”.

There is no understanding that poor farming practices are responsible for most of the conflict between humans and DCA's, There is no realization that outdated legislation continues to allow indiscriminate lethal methods of deterring DCA's or that legislation is widely open to abuse and misuse. By legalising lethal methods to deter wildlife, farmers and others are given the clear message that killing inhumanely and indiscriminately is entirely acceptable. This message will perpetuate the present climate of destroying our wild heritage and will continue to deter tourists who want to visit ethical eco destinations from visiting.

As a result, our wildlife populations continue to dwindle, wildlife social structures continue to become dysfunctional, biodiversity continues to be destroyed and all for the sake of short term financial gain.

Re: Chapter 2 (4) (a) ((1) bb)
The option to allow trapping wild animals for sale to research laboratories has always been illegal due to their CITES listing and consequential protected status as well as the restricted activity NEMBA definitions.
The above reference to allowing wild caught animals to be sold or donated to captive breeding or research facilities is another reference that is (added in 'again') again highly likely to impact negatively on the environment and the tourist industry that presently supports South Africa as a wildlife (friendly) take out 'friendly' destination. Potential eco-tourists could ethically prefer, for example, to visit Kenya where compassionate conservation exists .

As someone who has some experience with members of the public who profess to have problems with DCA's, it has become clear to me over time that members of the public commonly regard legislation as a barometer to justify lethal methods used against DCA's. The public look to our Nature Conservation organisations for direction. Simultaneously, Nature Conservation officials seem to be under the impression that these same laws exist because the public wants them.

SOLUTIONS:
Non -lethal methods to deter all DCA's should be widely encouraged. A climate that fosters a reverence and appreciation for our environment and its fauna and flora should be adopted to educate present and future generations who will in turn protect the environment long term. This will ensure our wild heritage is protected for future generations and for the tourists that support this country. Legislation that perpetuates the use of lethal methods to deter DCA's needs to be removed entirely. Only then will there be any chance of us stopping the ongoing destruction caused to biodiversity.

PET MONKEYS - WHAT TO DO.

2011-01-05T11:13:00.000+01:00

WHATTO DO WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THE POSITION OF NURTURING AN ORPHANEDBABOON OR MONKEY:

For somewho find themselves with the enormous responsibility of nurturing anorphaned primate, the decision to pass the baby on to arehabilitation centre is an easy one. But for others, once theinevitable child/parent bond has taken grip, it is hard to see thesituation objectively and to do what is best for the – longterm - interests of the monkey or baboon.

Understandably,once one feels the instinctual protective drive that occurs whensurrogate mothering a baby primate, to pass the baby onto a strangerat a rehabilitation centre can be a difficult step to take.

You'dlike to be the one in control of the destiny of the little primateyou have come to love.

You'd like to see for yourself that theprimate is happy and cared for and you want to be there to ensurethis all happens.

It is atthis point that you need to try and look at the situation from adistance.

Right now, you may be able to offer the baby all the nurturing s/he needs. But what about the future?

Are you aware that every choice you make will impact permanently on this monkey or baboons' life in some or other way. Primates learn through experience and observation and any choice you make on behalf of the orphan in your care will certainly stay - in some way - for a lifetime.

Askyourself if you are able to give the primate 24 hours a day care andwhether this will be the case well into the future – rememberbaboons live for about 40 years and monkeys for about 25 years.

Askyourself if you – as a human – are truly able to give a wildprimate all that s/he needs in terms of social interaction. Remember...these are highly social animals who live in close-knit complex groups andrequire a strong social system with a group rather than oneindividual on a long term basis.

Askyourself if you are able to accept being severely bitten and whetheryou mind having your home defecated in daily? These are normalbehaviours when monkeys learn to regard humans as part of theirfamily group.

Thelonger you keep a monkey or baboon with humans, the harder it is tointegrate them with their own kind and the less chance there will beof the animal having a fulfilling existence with other monkeys.

It isnot possible for any human to give to a monkey or baboon all thatthey they need, especially once they pass the age of sexual maturitywhereby nurturing the monkey as a surrogate child is no longerappropriate no matter how you look at it.

THEHAZARDS for HUMAN CARETAKERS:

Bitingis an integral aspect of monkey language. When one nurtures a babymonkey/baboon for too long, they learn to communicate with humans inmuch the same way they would do to other monkeys and biting isinevitable. If the monkey in your care does not bite you ,s/he willcertainly bite other humans connected to you. This is because theseanimals are very territorial and biting others that are not part oftheir immediate family group is perfectly normal in monkey language.Once “pet”monkeys begin to bite their human caretakers, they areusually relocated to a rehabilitation centre where it is often toolate to rehabilitate them back into the wild.

Theother aspect about monkeys that people have difficulty living withare their toilet habits. Living with a monkey who defecates all overyour home becomes intolerable for most people over time.

Keepingmonkeys or baboons is illegal. Once you have taken on this task, youwill always be worried that the “pet” in your care could beconfiscated – and perhaps euthanased – by the authorities.

Howevercute and lovable a baby primate can be, it is important to understandthat this is a short term situation. Consider the future of theorphan with a selfless love that is able to do what is best for theprimate in the long run.

Contactus for information about a reputable primate rescue centre in yourarea.

The Argument Against Consumptive Sustainable Use:

2010-10-26T11:56:00.003+02:00

The Argument Against Consumptive Sustainable Use:
Karin Saks

Is it possible to promote the idea of wildlife as a commodity that may be traded, controlled, hunted, subjected to untold cruel practices in the name of biomedical research and entertainment, yet simultaneously expect this practice to foster a respect for wildlife and the environment?

The sustainable use of wildlife can either be consumptive or non-consumptive:
Consumptive use:
The killing, trapping and capturing of wild animals for commerce (for ivory, the pet trade, biomedical research) or recreation (sport hunting, entertainment).
Non consumptive Use:
An activity that generates income without harming animals or removing them from their habitats.

The concept of sustainable use has been pushed as a sound wildlife management tool, yet in practice it has involved far more “use” and not much sustainability. History has shown that it generally results in the over-exploitation and decimation of the species involved.

Depletion of species used is almost always a forgone conclusion because of several factors, some being:

1.The short term financial interest and greed (human nature) of the users.
2.Inadequate scientific knowledge about wildlife populations
3.The inability to predict the outcome of our attempts to manage wild animals with any degree of accuracy.

These factors and results have almost - without exception - characterised past efforts at consumptive management and the commercial use of wildlife species.

EXAMPLES OF DAMAGED WILD POPULATIONS:

Wild species that are perceived to be in competition with agriculture and forestry are generally painted as healthy and plentiful in spite of the fact that their populations are not monitored. The reason for this is to keep the real damage done to these species hidden from the public so that agriculture can appear to be justified in persecuting them. In Southern Africa, “problem” species have historically been fatally injured and killed in exceptionally cruel ways – poison, gin traps, bow and arrows, dog hunting packs, barbed wire are some of many methods that have been used.

In the past, near Bloemhof about 200 kms west of Johannesburg, a small reserve named the SA Lombard Nature Reserve was in existence. At this reserve, captured predators were fed on meat laced with poisons, while conservation officials recorded the time taken by the animals to die. Dogs were bred (at taxpayers' expense) to supply the dog-packs which hunted the land, killing our wildlife. Large scale barbaric cruelty was carried out, hidden from the tax payers who paid for it. Not much has changed since the days of the Oranjejag hunting club which exterminated 87,570 animals in the Free State alone.

The Wild Dog – once perceived to be a “problem animal” or “damage causing animal”, has been exterminated from large parts of Africa and is an example of how a species that is not monitored, is plagued by misconceptions and is encouraged to be persecuted by legislation and ignorance can become highly endangered due to the message of disrespect conveyed by the consumptive use camp. Today the Wild Dog is one of the continent's most rarely encountered animals. Other Southern African species that suffer similar effects as perceived “problem animals”, are likely to go the same way unless there is change. The vervet monkey and chacma baboon are generally believed to be healthy due to that fact that they are “commonly” seen in certain areas but the damage caused to troop strcutures , and how this impacts on related ecosystems has not been taken into consideration. As a result those that work hands-on with these species report a dwindling in numbers and troop structure damage that has a ripple effect on future generations and all related systems.

Founded as the Botswana Wild Dog Research Project in 1989, the Botswana Predator Conservation Trust (BPCT) has expanded to cover all the large carnivore species in Botswana. It is one of the longest running large predator research projects in Africa and one of only a handful of its caliber worldwide.

BPCT research on wild dogs has made it abundantly clear that the health and welfare of the entire predator population is a key indication of overall health of the ecosystem.

Preservationists and animal protectionists have begun to realise the importance of focussing not only on endangered species but on working towards a healthy biodiversity.

In his book Animals In Peril, ex chief executive, John Hoyt from the HSUS, says:

“Whales were supposedly sustainably exploited for decades under the careful scientific management regime of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) – until all eight species of great whales were pronounced endangered.

Sustainable use did not work with such developed North American resources such as grizzly bears, ducks, californian sardines, ancient forests, or just about anything else that has supposedly been managed, conserved, exploited , utilized or harvested on a sustained yield basis.

Not even white tailed deer which have thrived, can be considered an unmitigated management success. Creating and maintaining a “harvestable surplus” of deer has adversely affected other species, and has been achived by the removal of old growth forests and predators.”

The “Damage” Caused by Elephants Benefits Biodiversity:
A recent study showing environmental benefits conducted by elephants, that are often perceived to be environmentally damaging, illustrates how inadequate scientific knowledge about wildlife populations can be destructive to the environment: ”Areas heavily damaged by elephants are home to more species of amphibians and reptiles than areas where the beasts are excluded”, the study suggests.
The findings have been published in the African Journal of Ecology.
"Elephants, along with a number of other species, are considered to be ecological engineers because their activities modify the habitat in a way that affects many other species," explained Bruce Schulte, now based at Western Kentucky University, US.
"They will do everything from digging with their front legs, pulling up grass to knocking down big trees. So they actually change the shape of the landscape."
He added that elephants' digestive system was not very good at processing many of the seeds that they eat.
"As the faeces are also a great fertiliser, the elephants are also able to rejuvenate the landscape by transporting seeds elsewhere," Dr Schulte told BBC News.
In the paper, the scientists concluded that difference in abundance and species richness in the damaged areas was probably a result of engineering by elephants, generating new habitats for a diverse array of frog species.
Dr Schulte explained the team decided to carry out the study in order to identify effective indicator species that offered an insight into the health of the region's environment.
He added that the findings had implications for habitat and wildlife management strategies.
"if we are managing habitat, then we clearly have to know what we are managing it for.
"What this study point towards is that although things may not look particularly pretty to a human eye does not necessarily mean that it is detrimental to all the life that is there."

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

2010-07-07T11:39:00.000+02:00

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

CO-EXISTING WITH BABOONS AND MONKEYS. PRESENTATION.

2010-05-07T11:51:00.004+02:00

For those wanting to find out information on how to co-exist with wild monkeys or baboons, the following video presentation with music will offer much information.

This is a video version of the slide show presentation. Anyone wanting a copy of this slide show, contact us.

Cross - Species Love.

2010-03-27T13:15:00.007+01:00

" The interactions between chimpanzees and baboons, as observed at Gombe, are more varied and more complex than those between any other two species in the animal kingdom". Jane Goodall. Through a Window.

I've had little luck with finding out more info about the relationship between wild baboons and vervet monkeys, and the only cross-species primate relationships I have found information on have to do with different species residing as ex-humanised beings within a rehab centre or sanctuary context, or primate species that do not live close by.

Jane Goodall's observations on the relationship between Chimpanzees and Baboons serves as a very interesting insight nevertheless - a parallel experience from which I can draw certain insights.

For some time now, I've been following one particular cross-species love story, between a young female baboon and an adult vervet male. Both have troops. Neither are low on the hierarchy. Both are wild animals without any human interference. I can't find any reasonable explanation for their friendship other than love.....

D.P.G. MONKEYS IN FOREST

2010-03-03T06:14:00.002+01:00

THE D.P.G TROOP PRESENTLY UNDERGOING REHABILITATION FREELY ROAM IN THE INDIGENOUS FOREST AND HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING HOW TO SURVIVE IN THE WILD AS THEY ARE EXPOSED TO OTHER WILD SPECIES, PREDATORS AND NATURAL FOOD SOURCES.

FOREST MONKEYS MARCH 10

Four Year Old Wild Female Baboon Grooms Adult Male Monkey.

2010-03-02T09:04:00.002+01:00

Four Year Old Wild Female Baboon Grooms Adult Male Monkey.

Kong is an adult wild male monkey who moved into our vervet monkey troop, from a neighboring wild troop, a week and half ago.

In this video, he calmly lies down and accepts being groomed by a wild female baboon of about 4 years, who visited the surrounding forest with her troop yesterday.

Volunteer - Johanna Andreasson - and I were unable to get too close to this unusual scene for fear of frightening them off.

Baboons are commonly believed to be predators of vervet monkeys. I think they present a threat to vervet monkeys only when resources are low and the two species are forced to compete for food. I've witnessed single male vervets living with troops of baboons and have had the privelege of watching orphaned rescued baboons playing with vervets undergoing rehabilitation.

In this case, both these individuals are wild.

Primates groom allies and family - this female baboon likely has known Kong for some time.The question is; what were her motives for grooming him - it is generally assumed that a non human primate is likely to have a self serving motive for befriending another individual. But, our human based assumptions have the potential to lead us far off the truth as this very incident illustrates.

As far as I know, none of our D.P.G monkeys have been groomed previously by any of the wild baboons.

Juvenile wild baboons do play with our rehab monkeys from time to time as a reciprocal relationship has been worked out by the two species over the last two years; the wild baboon troop have learnt to harmoniously accept second place and share this territory with our vervets.

The Nursery - Baby Orphans and their Surrogate Mothers. Feb 2010.

2010-02-26T16:45:00.004+01:00

While the rest of our monkey troop freely roam in the surrounding indigenous forest, our baby orphans still require protection and remain in an enclosure with their surrogate mothers form ost of the days. We do however monitor their movements while bringing them out every day to socialise with the rest of the group undergoing rehabilitation.

-

Wild Male Joins Our Monkeys Undergoing Rehabilitation.

2010-02-25T04:09:00.005+01:00

Kong - latest wild male to join our monkey troop that are undergoing rehabilitation: 24 Feb. 2010

Two years ago, when I began to form our vervet monkey troop from orphans and injured individuals, there were no wild monkeys on the property. This factor allowed me to try out the unusual method of releasing vervet monkeys undergoing rehab into the wild. The benefits have been clear. From the start, our monkeys have been exposed to natural food sources and predators.

It is considered extremely risky to allow monkeys at rehab centres to free roam when wild troops exist. It is thought that a wild troop is likely to kill any intruders so when a small vervet monkey troop visited in September last year, I was concerned for our monkeys and initially put them back into enclosures so I could assess the risks. The visiting wild troop consisted of two adult males, two adult females, an infant and 2 yr old juvenile. The presence of two healthy adult males luckily did not deter Mr No Hands from successfully exhibiting "ownership" of this territory.

Luckily we have been able to work out a relationship with this wild troop and they presently give way to our troop undergoing rehabilitation as they freely roam in the indigenous forest.

Periodically, a wild single male appears to forge his way into our group. Our alpha male, Mr No Hands has been successful - along with the back up of his allies - in chasing these males away. However our latest wild male, Kong, joined our group a couple of weeks ago. Mr No Hands seems to be accepting of this new male.

Kong, being a wild adult male will bring beneficial lessons to the group which still needs more adult males to balance the troop structure. Wild monkeys always provide rehab monkeys with valuable lessons about survival in the wild.

UPDATE ON OUR MONKEYS - JAN 2010.

2010-02-21T10:07:00.002+01:00

Disney - 2months old. Jan 2010
Harriet, Mr No hands and Jack - top female, male and beta male, bonding with newcomers inside the eclosure while long term residents freely roam in the indigenous forest.
Monki - Showing her battle scars after losing top position to Harriet.
No Hands, Harriet and orphan baby Kali soak up the sun - Jan 2010.

Our Rehab Vervet Troop - 2010. January.

Some nine years ago, when I first moved to the Garden Route, after establishing a baboon sanctuary in the Magaliesberg, I decided not to continue rehabilitating and rescuing non-human indigenous primates. My reasons had much to do with what had occurred on the sanctuary, the one we'd named "Imfene" which was based at the foot of the Magaliesberg Mountain. To explain it all I would have to digress - get off the subject of what this blog this is about, but if you are curious about all the roads that led to this decision, it can be found in Fransje van Riel's book; Life With Darwin which was published in 2003 by Penguin Publishers.

To summarise the copious obstacles facing those who takes on the rehab or rescue of vervet monkeys and baboons is almost impossible. Those that do, are faced with legislation that seeks to persecute these species, propaganda that serves to perpetuate age-old myths about their behaviour and status as "problem" animals in relation to the humans who have robbed them of their natural habitat and the right to live freely, and the chronic consequences of loving non-human animals that face death on a daily basis. Back in 2000, I had no intention of risking this kind of love and pain again.

To deter this nightmare, I remained faithful to a safer plan; working towards a harmonious co-existence between humans and non-human primates - finding solutions, educating and fighting our unacceptable laws. This work continued until residents with injured and orphaned baboons and monkeys began to seek me out; there are no vervet monkey sanctuaries or rehab centres in the Western Cape. There was no other solution but to euthanase those in need. And while there is one baboon sanctuary in this province, it is some hours away from the Garden Route, making it far easier to find a lethal solution to the countless orphans that are the consequence of farmers shooting mothers.

Once again, I felt compelled to do something - faced with an infant orphaned primate who has no future other than death, the choices are few. And so I founded the Darwin Primate Group that seeks to find solutions to bring harmonious co-existence between non-human and human primates and rescues and rehabilitates vervet monkeys.

Without the necessary infrastructure and the limitations of living on rented land, we went ahead, taking in any infant orphans and injured adults that came our way. My method of rehab has been to integrate all the monkeys that get brought here so that they are bonded and can freely roam in the wild indigenous forest that surrounds our home. Today most of these individuals are bonded, have learnt many wild lessons about foraging for natural foods and the threat of predators. Sometime newcomers take one month to integrate and become free, others take six months. The goal always is to work towards total freedom in the wild.

Wild vervet monkeys have come and gone, as have many single transient males. Presently, we have a wild adult male called Kong who has joined our rehab group. Unlike some of the other transient males he has shown a calm, submissive disposition and seems to slowly be working his way into the group, using the most beneficial monkey manners possible.

And so the saga continues....

LIVING WITH BABOONS - FOR RESIDENTS.

2010-02-13T08:45:00.000+01:00

New Orphans - December 2009.

2009-12-27T07:28:00.006+01:00

Grub.

Jack (back) with three babies. Thabo looking at us.

INFANTICIDE AMONGST CHACMA BABOONS AND VERVET MONKEYS.

2009-12-27T07:02:00.007+01:00

The drawing below was based on a photograph - Terry an infant, had apparently been killed by her genetic father. Here her corpse is surrounded by her mother and siblings. Two weeks later her mother had disappeared. Due to the events leading up to this, I guessed the father had killed the mother as well.

Terry's father - Mr Alfie - had moved into this troop a year earlier. It is normal for relationships to become turbulent when a new male moves into a troop and new males generally act more aggressively than long term male residents who are more secure in their relationships with other members.

From the start Mr Alfie had a severely turbulent relationship with Teleka, the top ranking female and mother of Terry. Prior to his move into the troop, the troop had been led by Kaya, an alpha male who had died after being electrocuted on a pylon. Like Kaya, Mr Alfie was the sole adult male in this troop of eleven individuals. He had no male competitors to challenge the aggression he brought to the troop.

Although I do not know the reason why this troop had only one adult male, the small size of the troop and the skew in adult males to females appears to have contributed towards fatalities.

Many troops in South Africa are showing a skew in adult male to female ratios due to the males being targeted by humans.

After witnessing a number of infanticide - or juvenile attacks which may be related - amongst wild troops of vervet monkeys and chacma baboons, and having once had the unfortunate experience of watching two baby orphan baboons I was fostering killed during an infanticide attack, I have arrived at the conclusion that attacks on infants and juveniles are often motivated by re-directed aggression.

While infanticide committed by new males moving into a troop may be motivated by the need to ensure lactating females come into oestrus more quickly, I suspect this is merely one reason behind the instances of infanticide that occur.

The few baboon infanticide cases I have witnessed have occurred under different and varied circumstances. A number of fatally injured juvenile and infant monkeys have been brought to me with head wounds or severe spinal injuries, clearly caused by adult male monkeys; considering the extent of these injuries, I have assumed that the motivation was to kill. Biting the victim in the middle of the spine ensures paralysis of the lower body, immobilizing the victim. Adult male monkeys sometimes practice this same kind of attack on adult male opponents.

Taking all the cases I have seen into consideration, I have concluded that both chacma baboons and vervet monkeys commit infanticide or attack juveniles to:

1. Bring lactating females into oestrus: this hypothesis is only relevant in the infanticide cases as killing juveniles who are already weaned would be implausible.

2. To fatally wound a helpless young individual that is assumed to be genetically close to one’s adult opponent (re-directed aggression). This occurs during territorial disputes and when new adult males move into a troop.

3. The behaviour of chacma baboons and vervet monkeys in captivity is vastly altered and higher incidences of violence are more likely between adults (of both sexes); infanticide and juvenile attacks would therefore also be more possible as individuals are unable to escape.

Young primates are used as weapons during conflict situations between adult males. Young juveniles who have lost their mother (due to being shot, electrocuted, run over etc), and have too few adult allies, are likely to be prime targets for infanticidal males.

When rehabilitating a troop of vervet monkeys or chacma baboons, the risks of infanticide and fatal attacks on juveniles, need to be taken into consideration. All individuals need to be strongly bonded, with each member having enough adult allies to protect them under risky conflict situations. Sex and age ratios need to be as appropriate as possible. The troop needs to be large as small troops are at great risk of not surviving.

Another Monkey Dies in Nature's Valley.Nov. 09

2009-12-04T09:57:00.007+01:00

On the last day of November, I received a call from the Nature’s Valley camp site to rescue an adult female monkey who appeared to be “very sick”, unable to walk and had an infant clinging to her. The mother had suffered severe trauma; her neck, head and chest were a deep purple. Her face was distorted due to massive swelling and her eyes stared, signifying concussion. The most likely reason for the injury was that someone had hit her with such force that the intent no doubt was to kill. Reluctant to leave his mother, the infant attempted repeatedly to wake her up. In response she’d try to pull him off her; the pain being too difficult to bear. She needed all the energy she had; we took over the nurturing of the infant and the other monkeys have been helping to make him feel welcome.

Although we did everything to try and save the mother over the next few days, it transpired she had suffered internal injuries that made survival impossible and died.

Open dustbins and kitchens are responsible for attracting monkeys and baboons into the camp site. Once there, tourists feeding them by hand, and eating in front of them, invites these primates to help themselves to any food around. Primate proof dustbins, signage placed in strategic places to educate visitors, a primate proof kitchen area and good waste management will go a long way to solve the animal/human conflict.

The vervet monkey troop in Nature’s Valley has been living off the refuse site and camp site for some years as bad waste management continues.

Thankyou to Jemima from Sanparks for her concern for the injured mother and her baby.

We greatly appreciate the kind help offered by Dr Bert van Reenen from Marine Way Animal Hospital.

For information on co-existence between humans and wild primates, LOOKK UNDER OUR MENU - FOR RESIDENTS -

Baboon or monkey proofing your home.

2009-12-01T14:21:00.006+01:00

It's not that I can easily live with an aesthetically, unappealling home. I'm not sure any artist can. But when it comes to the necessity of sharing a territory with wild animals as many of us do, along with the choice, comes tolerance and compromise. If we don't excercise those two options and choose instead to shoot, we undoubtedly contribute to an escalating, damaged environment - one we humans are entirely dependant on for survival, in spite of the level of denial we appear to be in.

These pictures are taken at home where we have resorted to cheap ways of baboon and monkey proofing the home we live in. We have made screens and "intruder boundaries" out of cheap, strong wire or simple insect screening which works for monkeys. For those needing to do something similar in a more artistic manner, there are countless artists who would design beautiful intruder barriors (burglar bars) that will make you wonder why you ever resisted this option in the first place. Just contact me and I will put you in touch with an artist you need.

The wild baboon troop come by regularly and the monkeys as you probably know by now, are orphaned and injured individuals going through rehab.

With these simple, cheap methods of keeping the non-human primates amongst us out, our lives are free of raids, damaged possessions and that indefinable frustrating feeling of feeling helpless in the face of lost possessions.

I find it immensely easy to live with both baboons and monkeys simply because our home is baboon/monkey/human proofed.

And this is why whenever I meet a financially, unchallenged individual who justifies their killing of our indigenous primates, by saying it costs too much in money or effort, I despair at the nature of humans - the unwillingness to look at life with fresh eyes and embrace new ideas that may help our dying environment.

The closer I am led into the intimate lives of vervets and baboons and other non-human animals, the more I understand that it is humans who need rehabilitation - who need to adapt their lives to live with others, so that the path that damages the environment we share is turned around for the sake of us all.

It is far more peaceful to live in harmony once one makes the decision to compromise and add a few changes to one's home. Try it before you knock it - you'll be contributing to a better world. And you'll wonder why you put yourself through all the uneccessary frustration of living in a way that brings hostility.

Karin.

The bars in these photos are seven cms x seven cms and are effective in keeping vervet monkeys out.

MISCONCEPTIONS – A THREAT TO OUR PRIMATES.

2009-12-01T10:36:00.000+01:00

One of the most pervasive threats facing wild primates are the misconceptions that have been handed down through the centuries. Take the example of baboons being thought to be far more dangerous than they are. Baboons are not predators, do not generally kill other animals for food (1.*Baboons on the Cape Peninsula by Ruth Kansky), and there is allegedly only one account of a human dying from a baboon attack. While they have the weapons to inflict damage on others, these weapons are used to intimidate non-violently more often than not.

Generally baboons practice enormous restraint. The sight of a large adult male displaying, running fast, hair on end, breaking branches and wa-hooing is a formidable scene, sending shivers of fear through the bravest of us. This display is intended to intimidate and is used to attain a goal usually from others within the troop. It is rare for violence to be involved. Baboons do not go out of their way to attack dogs and will generally tolerate chasing dogs that do not pose a threat to the group, even playing with them. But when you are the “owner” of a much loved dog, the sight of a big baboon reacting by chasing the dog away, usually evokes a magnified fear that the dog will be hurt. Large dogs seriously intent on hurting baboons may be attacked and packing dogs will be treated as a serious threat, but on the whole, baboons practice tolerance, not going further than a mere threat designed to warn the dog not to get too close.

I was reminded of the tremendous restraint practiced by baboons recently when a wild troop came close to a territory long inhabited by a vervet monkey group. It’s commonly believed that when monkeys and baboons are forced to compete over resources, the monkeys will give way.

While young baboons and monkeys may play together, when resources are truly low and these two species are forced to compete, monkeys have allegedly sometimes been killed. In this case the alpha male vervet threatened the alpha male baboon who moved off slowly then sidled up to a few monkeys close by and threatened them instead. This is common primate language: “if I can’t go after you, I’ll go after someone close to you”. It is akin to blackmail.

But the surprising aspect of this redirected threat is it showed that the baboon was accepting a submissive position in relation to the alpha vervet – he was accepting that the vervets had first access to the territory and food it contained. The motive when translated states; “I am going to frighten you into handing over your food”. We forget to notice the restraint practiced by baboons, assuming instead that an intimidating threat will likely lead to harm. In this case, while the baboon could easily have grabbed any of these monkeys and caused serious damage, he chose not to. He was pushing his luck, trying to get food, as all opportunistic primates tend to do. But he gave way, moved off and left the vervets to eat in peace.

While we need to be vigilant about not cornering or threatening a baboon that has entered a home, by using passive body language and ensuring there is an escape route, we also need to remember not to panic and to understand that unless severely threatened, it is highly unlikely a baboon has reason to attack.

*1. Baboons are highly adaptive and some troops in certain areas are known to kill young antelopes. This is an adaptation.

Snared Baboon - Trapped, Healed and Released. November 09

2009-11-19T05:07:00.004+01:00

Watching this four year old male baboon with his troop of forty plus companions had been heart breaking. The snare tightly wrapped around his neck limited his movement and he held onto a half a metre piece of wire with one hand while walking on three limbs.

How was I going to trap him? One baboon in a group of forty.

At first, Rolf Lamprecht, a vet based in Knysna, came out to see if he could dart him but due to the troop being particularly persecuted, it was impossible to get close enough. I had to make another plan.

It took four days of intense baboon psychology to trap him. John had performed a miracle by building a strong trap when we could not locate one elsewhere. And it certainly seemed as if the chances of us saving him were too slim to hope.

But it worked. Once trapped, Rolf came out to dart and treat him. He was then released. His wounds are healing beautifully.

Baboons Still Being Killed in Nature's Valley.

2009-11-19T04:58:00.002+01:00

Baboons are being killed in Nature’s Valley if I am to believe the annual reports that come my way. For the last three years, a resident who prefers to remain anonymous – due to the implications of living in a small seaside village where social and business relationships are integral to one’s daily life – has notified me of these illegal shootings.

When I first tried to expose the shooting of two baboons in Nature’s Valley a couple of years back it was quickly covered up, fobbed off as rumour and forgotten by most. Cape Nature has informed me that to bring these crimes to book I would need evidence; the investigative work is therefore up to the public rather than the authorities. Because the perpetrators get away with it, the shootings have continued; allegedly the alpha male of the Nature’s Valley troop was shot a couple of weeks ago.

Having observed the baboon troops in this area for some years, I am well acquainted with their behaviour. Unlike the Cape Peninsula where baboons and humans have been forced to work out a relationship due to the baboons being cut off by development, our baboons act quite differently and a respect for human boundaries is generally displayed. It is highly unlikely your bag or sandwich would be snatched out of your hand. However on properties where they are used to being fed by hand, they may threaten with the sole purpose being to intimidate you to hand your food over. This is merely a threat, not an “attack”.

I urge Cape Nature to investigate these allegations and ask for proof of these so- called attacks before accepting these invented stories. After all our simian cousins cannot speak up for themselves and are constantly placed on trial with a barrage of mythical crimes leveled against them, their fate almost always resulting in an unfair death penalty.

Rumour has it that baboons have had to be shot in Nature’s Valley as humans were in danger. This amounts to ludicrous fiction – created by those who need to justify their crimes.

As far as dogs are concerned, baboons do not attack dogs unless a troop member is seriously threatened. They know each dog as an individual and are aware of their potential danger to their own species. But mostly our troops are extremely tolerant of dogs, allowing them to chase and provoke provided that is what the dog intends.

Sadly these deaths could have been avoided if Nature’s Valley had dealt with their garbage in a manner that does not attract wildlife for it is known that bad refuse management is the main reason why wildlife is attracted into human areas.

I urge the environmentally caring residents and visitors to Nature’s Valley to expose the perpetrators of these killings, and for Sanparks to erect baboon proof bins at their campsite. Those who are aware of wildlife being harmed in Nature’s Valley should contact the N.S.P.C.A or Cape Nature.

Shooting a raiding baboon has proved again and again to be ineffective against raiding yet it continues. This ensures that troop structures will be severely damaged with long term effects that impact on all related systems.

To find out more on co-existing peacefully with monkeys or baboons, visit the Darwin Primate Group website: http://www.darwinprimategroup.blogspot.com/

Karin Saks
Darwin Primate Group.

My favourite group of wild baboons.

2009-11-01T16:55:00.003+01:00

To find more about our volunteer program, contact Karin at: karinsaks@gmail.com.

Volunteer - Heather Roberts - and myself, visit my favourite baboon friends...May 2008.

SNARES AND THE HORRIFIC CONSEQUENCES.

2009-11-01T09:00:00.004+01:00

September 2008: Jack, Nakedi, Zambi and Gandhi aka Mr No Hands.

In spite of low predator populations, our baboons and monkeys are run over by cars, killed by dogs, caught in snares, poisoned, caught for biomedical research laboratories, the pet industry and muthi (traditional medicine), electrocuted on pylons, and shot or injured by pellet guns.

For over a year, the Animal Welfare in Knysna has been receiving reports of single monkeys without limbs who have been forced to rely on the kindness of certain humans for protection and food. These monkeys have all been snared. Some have died from their wounds.

Gandhi - an adult male - was first seen surviving with his troop but then had to resort to living alone making his destiny exceptionally precarious as a single monkey - especially one without hands - is vulnerable to predators.
Some residents were kind enough to accept and tolerate his reliance on them, allowing him access onto human properties for some time. But recently a few began to threaten to shoot him , forcing us to find a way to save his life.

When he arrived here, the other monkeys greeted him enthusiastically. Because he has a particularly passive gentle nature, I have called him Gandhi. This calm, wise male is unlikely to have presented a threat to anyone. Unfortunately the myths that exist about these primates remain one of their biggest threats to survival. With more tolerance and understanding it is possible to co-exist harmoniously. These monkeys increasingly face the difficulty of living next to ongoing development that encroached on their habitat and are faced daily with the risk of being electrocuted, snared, run over, killed by dogs, shot or poisoned.

A BIG THANK YOU TO THE ANIMAL WELFARE IN KNYSNA for all the work they do to help our wildlife as well as cope with the numerous domestic animals that rely on them to survive.

Gandhi in August 2007:

This photo was sent to me last year after Gandhi had been seen in the Knysna area. Here he clearly has adapted - during the initial stages of his recovery - to using the power lines to make his way across the foliage.

The video clip shows his arrival where all the monkeys first greeted, then attempted to groom him through the wire of the box he had been transported in on the back of the van.

VIDEO CLIP: SHOTS AND SNARES IN THE CRAGS, W.C. 2008.

UPDATE ON OUR TROOP UNDERGOING REHAB.

2009-10-01T09:30:00.009+02:00

For some time now, our troop of unrelated monkeys - formed from orphans and injured monkeys that have been rescued - have been free roaming in the indigenous forest here, learning all the skills necessary for survival in the wild. Mr No Hands - aka Gandhi - has proved to be a perfect father to the orphans, perfect mate to surrogate mother Monki and perfect companion and protector to the juveniles.

What has been particularly touching is the manner in which the monkeys mobilise to warn the free ranging chickens here of approaching predators. Many a chicken's life has been saved by this troop, especially on overcast days when small raptors (that are no threat to vervets) come hunting. This illustrates the symbiotic relationship the monkeys have with the other animals that share their territory.

Other predators like snakes, honey badgers and caracal are also warned away by the troop who are learning a lot by all the wild visitors we have around this property.

PRIMATE FRIENDLY VEGETABLES AND FRUIT.

2009-09-21T11:53:00.002+02:00

FOR ALL THOSE WHO SUPPORT PRIMATE FRIENDLY PRODUCE, THE ORGANIC FARM BELOW OFFERS NON-ANIMAL FOODS THAT ARE TOTALLY FREE FROM CRUELTY.

THEY DESERVE ALL THE SUPPORT THEY CAN GET AND OFFER HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF SOUTH AFRICAN PRIMATES.

IF ANY OF YOU KNOW OF OTHER ANIMAL FRIENDLY PRODUCTS, PLEASE PASS ON THEIR DETAILS TO ME. WE HAVE A GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE WANTING TO FIND FOODS THAT DO NOT BRING ABOUT THE TERRIBLE SUFFERING AND DEATH OF SO CALLED "PROBLEM ANIMALS".

TO SUPPORT THIS ORGANIC FARM, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT A WONDERFUL JOB THEY ARE DOING!

Hello good people

My wife and myself are certified organic farmers - http://www.jacklinorganic.co.za

We produce various products that appeal to our local troupe of Vervet monkeys here in Badplaas.

We have partly managed our monkey challenge by planting maize in our pumpkin and butternut crops, which is effective as long as the maize yield is good enough. They always choose maize over squash and will leave the squash alone until the maize is finished. Unfortunately, we have no affordable way to keep them off our mango trees (around 30) so we did not produce organic dried mango this year, but the monkeys ate well and we simply accepted it with wry smiles.

As we are also in the business of removing wattle to make compost, we are slowly causing them habitat loss. Their indigenous habitat has long ago been destroyed by the earlier settlers in this valley. We fear they will now have to sleep away from our farm to where they are in danger of being shot or poisoned. This is an unintended consequence, as we feel great compassion for the plight of the wildlife around us.
We need to know if there is any relocation program for these monkeys, as we cannot really afford to accommodate them and allow the troupe to grow.

Please advise

Regards

Brendan Jacklin

Dear Brendan,

I am delighted to hear about your primate friendly organic produce. Where I live in The Crags WC, I honestly can say I don’t know of any farm around here that I can trust to buy our veggies and fruit from.
Relocating monkey troops is a very risky and expensive exercise. It takes a long time for monkeys to adapt to a new territory to ascertain which food sources are in season and when, and to understand their new wild neighbors, whether they be those they have a symbiotic relationship with or those they have reason to fear; predators. Hence few rehab centres have the resources to relocate.
In KZN, much research has gone into the concept of feeding stations. When a feeding station simply replaces the unnatural food sources the vervets are already getting, it does not ensure an increase in birth rate. I have attached information from Primates Africa which is a nation wide monkey organization, in the hope it will help.

All the best,
Karin Saks.

On Animals...

2009-08-08T09:39:00.002+02:00

MOVING FROM AN ANTHROPOCENTRIC WORLD VIEW TO A BIO-CENTRIC ONE.
Karin Saks.
"If Homo sapiens disappeared, the event would go virtually unnoticed by the vast majority of Earth’s life forms. As hominids, we dwell at the outermost fringes of important ecological processes such as photosynthesis and the conversion of biomass into usable nutrients." Christopher Manes (Nature and Silence 1996:24) The variety of living things all act together to make the web of life work. Over time this variety has been dangerously reduced by one species - humans. The consequences of this ensure that the present destructive events will continue until it is too late; unless we bring about serious change. All living things are necessary for Biodiversity - sun, water, plants, insects, reptiles, mammals, soil, fungi and bacteria are some examples of these life forms. The dependency of life forms on each other, the amount of species in existence, the genetic wealth within each and the natural areas where they occur are other elements necessary for biodiversity. Humans too are necessary and part of this web. Some of us see humans as above all other species, as a species that has the god given right - or self imposed right - to control and manipulate the rest of nature, while some of us see humans as having a role no more important in the big scheme of life than carrying bacteria in the human armpit as pointed out by Michael Tobias. “From the biosphere’s perspective, the whole point of Homo sapiens is their armpits, aswarm with 24.1 billion bacteria” (vii).Michael Tobias (in the introduction to the collection Deep Ecology) But whichever way we look at it, none of us can deny that the human population growth is way out of balance in relation to other species and this is the primary fact responsible for breaking down the web of life. If humans did not interfere in nature, the balance could be restored, because natural laws will ensure sustainable population densities. Natural forces will often bring balance back by causing the offending organisms to become extinct. Those who support the concept of sustainable use of natural resources, consider all species manageable to sustain the ongoing population increase of humans. The problem with this theory - and why it does not and never has - worked is that the most destructive and over populated species - the biggest consumers - are left out of the equation; In short, other species are "culled" so that humans can continue to over-populate, encroach on and destroy the environment and those who depend on it. Unless our own species is viewed in the same light as all others, long term conservation based on the principles of sustainable use, is unrealistic. For many of us, the answer lies in transforming an overwhelming anthropocentric (human based) view of the world into one that is bio-centric (where we are seen as one species amongst all others). If we don't change our destructive behaviour patterns, we will be unable to avoid a total end to our planet. This is why; it is entirely objective and realistic to refuse to embrace the culling of animals while humans ignore their own role as an over-populated species that by far destroys more than any other. We do not simply oppose the culling of animals - this needs to be seen in the context of human populations; how can we morally and objectively justify the decision to cull other species until we have made the human population explosion a priority to be viewed as the most important factor contributing to environmental damage. If humans have rights, how can animals not when you consider the above? By the same token if animals are granted no rights, then the most over populated species - humans - would have no right to rights either, provided we were able to look at the big picture without getting sentimentally swayed by our own self-imposed self importance (one which incidentally, the rest of nature does not agree with for if it did, there would be no environmental degradation). While animal rightists are accused of being sentimental, emotional and unrealistic, the fact is that the concept of sustainable use is exactly that - it is human based at the expense of all other life forms and in being so is a concept that appears to work in theory but has yet to do so in practice.

Art For Primates - hand painted t-shirts.

2009-07-24T17:35:00.010+02:00

T - SHIRTS are 20$ ea + postage.

Art For Primates - signed prints from the book, Life With Darwin.

2009-07-24T17:35:00.009+02:00

Life With Darwin - co-authored by Fransje van Riel and Karin Saks - is a book about the plight of baboons in Saks' care and in other areas of South Africa. Life With Darwin was published by Penguin in 2003. The drawings for this book were drawn by Karin Saks.

Here are some of the signed prints taken from the book, Life With Darwin (review above), that we have for sale to fund our project:

Price - 50$ ea.

Monki running wild with her adopted baby.

2009-01-13T15:20:00.007+01:00

Video clip of sub-adult surrogate monkey mother the first time she took her orphaned adopted baby - Sputnik - up into the trees. A nerve wracking moment for me as this was her first attempt at mothering.

Nichola and Katie - a week of volunteer life.

2009-01-04T13:48:00.001+01:00

Photos of our time with Katie and Nichola.

Katie looking out to sea - Salt River hike. Photo: Karin.

Salt River day.

The day Katie and Nichola canoed down the Keurbooms River.

John does his camel man pose while accompanying Katie and Nichola to the gorge at home.
Photo by Nichola.

The wild troop visit at home. Photo by Nichola.

Our wild neighbors. Photo by Nichola.

Katie and Nichola.

Kennedy, Nakedi and Koko - our orphaned monkeys going through rehab at home. Photo by Nichola.

The view of Nature's Valley. Photo Nichola.

The day we hiked to the Salt River. Photo Karin.

Katie contemplating at the Salt River. Photo: Karin.

Baboons Captured for Research Laboraties - Article Animal Voice 2004.

2009-01-04T12:43:00.001+01:00

Paintings by Karin Saks - B.A.F.A.

2009-01-04T10:12:00.000+01:00

The Visitor of Shade.

Extinction

Wild Horses

Canned Lion

Bang.

Death of the Anima.

Feral.

Latest Pics.- integrating new babies into the troop.

2008-11-21T08:28:00.013+01:00

Gandhi, Madala (baby number two) and Nakedi (one year old male)
Nakedi and baby Madala.

Gandhi, alpha male with new baby, Sputnik
Jack - 2 year old male with Sputnik
Monki - sub adult female, with Sputnik and Gandhi

Sputnik and Madala, the first orphans of 2008, surrounded by their new family. Gandhi (Mr No Hands - a snare victim), Monki, a sub-adult female,Jack a 2 year old male and Nakedi a one year old have taken on most nurturing responsibilities. Gandhi and Monki have embraced the role of top male and female.

Gandhi's alpha presence impacts on Monki's behaviour and all the monkeys have been focussing on the two new babies, ensuring a constant bonding for the whole group. The babies appear to gain much security from having not only a mother, but also an alpha male and juvenile siblings. When this option is not possible, a human surrogate mother is necessary for orphans. But seeing this process of orphaned babies integrating into the troop here shows the extent that monkeys need to be with their own kind wherever possible.

THE DAMAGE CAUSED TO TROOP STRUCTURES BY HUMANS.

2008-10-16T14:30:00.013+02:00

...

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU COME ACROSS WILD VERVET MONKEYS OR CHACMA BABOONS WHILE ON FOOT...

2008-10-15T05:47:00.012+02:00

Most of us know not to stare at a wild monkey or baboon because it is considered to be threatening to them. Those who have had a relationship with specific individuals in the wild will know that in time, one is able to look into the eyes of the non-human primate as they do into yours, simply because you are no longer considered a stranger.

When you come across wild monkeys or baboons while out walking, it is important to turn your eyes downwards, remain calm and walk slowly. Don't walk towards them or face them.

If you look at this video clip you will see me purposefully walking past a wild male baboon to illustrate the respect the baboons here have for us. The baboon turns away, showing respect for my personal space in the same manner that a lower ranking individual in a troop will do when a higher ranking individual walks towards the other.

Most wild baboons know humans as individuals and do not generalise about people.
However, there are some baboons in other areas who have learnt to generalise about people and have been forced into a number of situations to try and get food where the baboons have learnt how scared people get when they intimidate them. They know that all it takes to get food is to frighten someone enough and the food is accessible. Their intention is not to harm the person but to get the food and with a bit of common sense the situation is easily divereted.

In these cases the baboon appears very menacing to the average person. Try not to panic, back away and if you are scared, drop the food that the baboon wants. If a baboon snatches your bag (this only occurs in certain places where baboons generalise about humans), drop it. Once the baboon has realised there is no food in your bag, he will leave it and you can retrieve it.

Remember that their motive is to get food not to hurt you! This will help you remain calm and use passive body language as described here.

It is most important to never frighten the babies by looking at them or getting close to them when you come across wild troops while on foot.

THE RAID - OCT 2ND. 2008.

2008-10-02T14:26:00.006+02:00

The frustration of residents was palpable. Someone had a long stick, another was screaming "voetsak" - over and over. Both primate species seemed uncommonly anxious.

When verbally attacked, the troop melted into the bush, then as people seemed to move away, just as swiftly arrived back on the scene. I watched countless hotdogs and buns make their way off into the forest, clutched strongly by small black hands while perceptive eyes darted around looking for any obstacle. Every black plastic bag had been shredded, every container dissected. Hadn't anyone from the muncipality considered how much extra work this would bring them? Had they thought of ways to help how this affected both the people and the wild baboons? Age old misconceptions about the nature of baboons has seen them shot - again and again - in the past, but this method of "control" has never worked to deter them for long. Recent baboon management programs have shown success using non-lethal methods like baboon monitors, with the Cape Peninsula illustrating much research on this area.

Implementing a good waste management system is believed to bring a great reduction in the amount of raids done.

Having watched one monkey troop and one baboon troop rely regularly on the Nature's Valley dump - as shown in this video, there is no question that this needs to be addressed by firstly implementing a workable waste management program. I looked back at the baboons; those lower down on the hierarchy monopolised the junk food and had by now displaced the top individuals. Screams about who had taken hold of who's food echoed loudly. It all looked so dramatic.

But from where we sat, this stressful situation seemed easily resolved.

Animal Experiments in South Africa

2008-10-02T07:08:00.000+02:00

The History of Vivisection can be found at the followinglink: http://www.animalrightsafrica.org/VivisectionHistoryOf.php

Go to the following link to find a list of some of the places and units that do animal experiments in South Africa. http://www.animalrightsafrica.org/VivisectionSouthAfrica.php

To find out why vivisection is of no use to humans, go to the following link: http://www.animalrightsafrica.org/VivisectionNoUse.php

________________________________________

Our Surrounding Area

2008-09-09T11:28:00.010+02:00

A walk to the gorge...to visit the place where leopards, caracal, porcupine, genet, honey badgers and wild baboons sleep...

2008-09-07T14:13:00.006+02:00

Kajika - one who walks in silence..

2008-07-27T17:05:00.004+02:00

GARETH PATTERSON

2008-06-29T04:26:00.003+02:00

Friend and patron of D.P.G - Gareth Patterson; lion/ele man

ARTICLE: THE SUNDAY INDIAN: 25TH MARCH, 07.

Gareth's website: www.garethpatterson.com

t h e l i g h t h o u s e

If there were to be a 'King of the Jun-
gle', apart from the kingly beast itself,
it'll be Gareth Patterson. The "strong
feeling (that) stirred within me" at
the sighting of lions when just about
seven years old led Patterson to
become a wildlife crusader who walks
the wilds with Africa's wild denizens,
championing their cause. Author of
Last of the Free and To Walk with Li-
ons, and the un-anointed successor to
the legacy of the legendary Adam-
sons (George and Joy of Born Free
fame) talks to TSI about ecology, man-
kind & their common challenges.

THE LION MAN AND HIS PRIDE

How was the Adamson experience?

It was as a child that I was drawn to
the Adamson's work with the big cats of
Africa. I was captivated particulary by
George's relationship with lions. Reading Joy and George's books nurtured
within me the feeling that lions were going to be an integral part of my life.

As opposed to viewing myself as a
successor to George's life work, I see myself as someone who had the privilege of
being passed 'the baton of responsibility'.
And many of us were passed this baton
from the Adamson's. That's the Adam-
son's legacy, a legion of people worldwide whose actions today are inspired
and influenced by George and Joy.

Who else has really influenced you?

Many, many people, and other beings,
have influenced aspects of my life. My
friend and former tracker in the Botswanan bush, Fish Mailia, for example, instilled within me (the sensitivity) to listen
to the 'messages' while in the wilds, to
'tune in' to the subtle signals that carry
in the sights and sounds around one,
alerting one to what lies ahead, sometimes alerting one to potential danger
for example, and if heeded how danger
can be avoided. This 'tuning in' I have
realised is not exclusive to our time in the wild, but to life in general. The key is to listen, even though it's not always
easy to 'tune in'.

I have been influenced by writers,
musicians, orators, people in the street,
and being influenced, inspired, is a part
of our personal evolutionary process,
part of one's life 'work in process.' Lastly,
my lions influenced me and were more
like teachers who taught me how to look
through the window into their world,
into what I call Lionlife.

To the world, your bonding with Batian, Furaha, and Rafiki sounds otherworldly. How do you recall it?

The bond went very deep indeed, and
I was very blessed that a portion of my
life was spent with them. It was an experience that became a part of me, which
is alongside me to this day. Living as a
lion pride member was very humbling.
Across Asia & Africa, wildlife is in conflict with growing human populations.

What is their ecological future?

Humankind is morally evolving, despite also, like all of us here, having witnessed our negative impacts on the
planet. I like to believe that with a perceivable shift in consciousness, we can
find the road for the future. Nature is
never static and we are a part of that nature and we cannot exist without natural
processes, thus it's imperative that we act
on long-term initiatives. Otherwise our
own survival surely will be in peril...
Environmentalists are often at logger-
heads over the role of forest communities in conservation processes.

What in your opinion is the way ahead?

It would be terribly damaging if the
very people who were a part of the forest
environment in the past, are not an integral part of its future. Without these
communities participating in preservation planning, conservation could dangerously be viewed as exclusive and almost neo-colonialistic. Conservation
has to be inclusive, based in principals
of consultation, respect and communication with communities.

What's currently keeping you busy?

Currently, I am continuing with aspects of the (once thought extinct) Knysna elephants, I'm involved in lion issues. I have been helping Karin Saks,
with her primate preservation work,
namely Vervet monkeys and Baboons.
To borrow your phrase Indira, her relationship with these animals is almost
'other-worldly.' I am also busy with writing as well as our film project dealing with the Knysna elephants. I am working with filmmaker Mark van Wijk who has recently returned to South Africa from a two month project in India.
Who is Gareth Patterson beyond wildlife and conservation?

Someone who is an eternal optimist, a realist, a lover of life and all things living, a spiritual person, and a pragmatist
– all rolled into one. Which probably
makes me a contradiction of sorts!

For more on Gareth Patterson and his projects, refer to www.garethpatterson.com

Indira Parthasarathy

the sunday indian 58 25 march 2007

My neighboring baboons - BEHAVIOUR and power struggles.

2008-06-27T18:05:00.009+02:00

The above illustrates the balanced, healthy approach that our neighboring baboons here have towards humans. This same baboon - when approached by a stranger getting ouf of a vehicle on this road, runs away as soon as the person opens the car door. (See the video clip below for an illustration of rank between troop members.)

Baboons see humans as individuals and are able to ascertain who can and who cannot be trusted. The problem starts when the baboon has experienced too many humans that have shown a subordinate position by giving food by hand to a baboon who has not had many bad experiences with humans at that stage.
When this happens a lot, at crucial development stages in a baboon's life (juveniles/sub adults), the chances of the baboon generalising about humans is greater.

Handing food to a baboon by hand - simply translated - means you are giving over your power as only those at the "top" get first access to favourite foods.

It requires some understanding of baboon language (which the average person does not have the time or energy to take on) to intentionally take your power back once it has been lost to a baboon.

The following video clip illustrates the rank between 2 sub-adult males in a troop. As the male with more influence walks closer to the other male, the lower ranking one walks away to show respect for the "higher"individual's position.

Our baboon neighbors work out a hierarchal relationship with us as well. Feeding baboons will ensure you lose your power and once this has occurred, you may need to ask a baboon behaviourist about the best way to gain your power back. However, it is preferable that you are aware and keep your power from the start when your baboon neighbors first begin to try and push boundaries.

UPDATE ON OUR DPG MONKEYS::

2008-06-05T08:44:00.011+02:00

Update on the DPG monkeys:

Just as I was starting to wonder if the babies here would ever get some adult or sub-adult influence, three monkeys were brought in from close by.

All three are ex-pets who lived together.
Peta is a 3 !/2 yr old female, Monki is a 2 ½ yr old female and Jack is a one and a ½ yr old male. The integration is going well as the babies are learning a few more manners and are accepting the new hierarchy that is being worked out with the newcomers.

Up until now, the babies - and myself as surrogate mother - would spend at least four hours a day free roaming outside. This was contrasted by them being brought indoors at night at first and then being taken into the enclosure at night for their protection when they got a bit older.

Using my human attempt at imitating a monkey warning whenever a predator approached, I showed my response to potential enemies, whether it was a strange dog on the property, a raptor flying above or the wild baboons visiting. There is apparently a difference in opinion - amongst local monkey watchers - regarding the extent to which vervets rely on instinct, how much they rely on learned behaviour and whether they rely purely on instinct.

I can only speak for myself (and the four years I've been watching vervets) when I say that my observations tend to point to the fact that vervets certainly rely on learned behaviour - while they do have a certain amount of instinct too - and this therefore is an important part of forming a troop (with ex-human backgrounds) for rehabilitation back into the wild. Without a wild monkey troop in this area and no sub-adult or adults in the group, the only option was to act as surrogate mother until the situation could be rectified.

If Vervets and Baboons did not rely so much on imitation and observation to learn, they would not be the adaptable - and consequently successful - species they are.

As their surrogate mother, I therefore felt it necessary to illustrate certain behaviours that are necessary for survival - behaviours that in the wild would have been learnt by monkeys in their group. I figured that any instinctual knowlede would hopefully be brought to the fore more quickly this way and what was necessary to learn by imitation, would likely be observed by the monkeys too. It appears that at certain development ages instinctual knowledge falls into place.

Primates in captivity may form certain different behaviours to those in the wild. This can be misleading with regard to understanding behaviour if your only point of reference is primates in captivity. So I have tried as far as possible to observe wild baboon and monkey troops to gain a holistic view of rehabilitation. The research available on these species is invaluable when combined with direct observation of primates in the wild.

Personally, I think with all the changing social dynamics - the working out of relationships, a captive situation with no break can cause stress that if possible is better to try to prevent to some extent. (Unfortunately one does not always have this choice, depending on the circumstances.) This was my main reason for ensuring the babies have had as much free roaming in the wild as I could give them.

However, in spite of the fact that we live on 17 hectares of indigenous land, we are surrounded by farmers; the Hunting Proclamation applies in the Western Cape as an enormous obstacle to freedom for our primates. (See Primates Status blog for more info on legislation). Another obstacle are the countless electricity pylons in this area that have been placed next to Afromontane forest where trees are over 20 metres tall - these are forests our monkeys utilise, coming into close contact with pylons.

As the babies "mother" who they clearly rely on still, I monitored their movements, their response to predators and observed the vegetation they chose to eat. At seven months they still show their reliance on me as protector - a role I hope the others will take on as time passes and bonds are formed. Ideally I would have preferred to introduce a surrogate older female vervet to them much earlier on, but didn't have this choice. So, Peta's introduction has been a most welcome event.

The babies here certainly seem well adjusted. Yesterday when a raptor flew over, DiddyKong (who has been number one in the baby group) warned the others but only the babies fled to the trees with the three newcomers showing no response to the raptor. This is merely one aspect I intend to observe as time passes.

How the three newcomers impact on the changing dynamics is something I am observing to make the adjustment as gradual and gentle as possible After all, in the wild the weaning of babies is a gradual process, not an instant shock to the youngster, and even then it is traumatic. Will keep you updated….

MONKEYS BEING ELECTROCUTED ALONG THE GARDEN ROUTE.

2008-06-03T09:41:00.007+02:00

Click on the article to enlarge it.

The following article appeared in the CXPRESS last year and was written by one of their journalists.

Monkeys being electrocuted on pylons is a common event in this area where our forests have trees that are over 20 metres tall.

Anyone with a pylon that is dangerous to wildlife - whether it be birds or primates - please contact eskom about this and ask to have the pylon made safer.

Cross- Species Relationships - CXPRESS 2004

2008-05-30T05:17:00.002+02:00

Cross-species Relationships;

By Karin Saks

Jip is approximately five years old; a sub-adult member of the forty + Chacma Baboon troop who regularly visit our home here in The Crags. He slowly and hesitantly ambles up to Khoi-Anna - the resident cat – who is lying belly-up close by.

Little Joe, a younger baboon lower on the hierarchy, makes way for Jip to enter the cat’s space. After watching Khoi-Anna to check her reaction, Jip bends his head as she lifts her nose to touch his. Now that he has established her acceptance, he sits, placing his fingers in her fur and proceeds to groom - a gesture that cannot be misunderstood as anything but appeasing. This cross- species, poignant interaction is one of many that I have witnessed over the last year.

When first moving to this rented, forest cottage, I knew it provided a stop-over point for the local troop who had previously attempted to raid, yet the privelege of having wild baboons close by remained a magnetic attraction far outweighing any risk of food loss; I had experienced sharing a territory with these primates before and had inevitably learnt much about our relationship with them along the way; they seem to mirror the way we relate to them. With this in mind, creating a harmless safe environment - where we are able to co-exist peacefully - has been important. The alternative – to risk a hostile relationship – could be damaging to both sides.

The troop who visit have not only displayed exceptional social generosity towards my partner and I, but have extended this towards the farm animals whether they be horses, guinea fowl or cats. Visiting children are advised on how to behave while in their presence; passive body language enables both the children and baboons to watch each other without threat.

In her booklet, “Baboons on the Cape Peninsula”’ Ruth Kansky makes the observation that although male baboons have large canines for use in aggressive interactions in their society, they are not carnivores and do not consider humans to be prey. “Baboons, unlike dogs, have never killed a human”, the book claims, illustrating effectively the extent to which the nature of baboons has been misjudged.

Amongst the members of a group of baboons, friendships progress steadily over time due to a combination of good deeds and hard-earned trust - their friendships rely on a general system of reciprocity; give and take.

Unable to make assumptions about a troops past history with humans, I am always careful to assess the complexed social dynamics of each troop I encounter – each baboon is an individual shaped by genetics as well as past experience and in a world where humans are seen to be central this means that not only has dysfunctional behaviour manifested in humans but in some other animals too; baboons who are regularly shot at are easy to distinguish from their less harassed peers.

Taking all this into consideration,a harmonious co-existence is necessary for a healthy future for all primates – both human and non-human.

First Rehabilitation- GISMO, 1998.

2008-05-30T05:08:00.008+02:00

Above: Darwin, an orphan baby baboon accepted by the wild troop that would come past our home in Broederstroom.

Intro:

Our rehabilitation centres in South Africa have a backlog of primates where hundreds of primates remain in captivity for years. Without protective legislation and a diminishing habitat, full rehabilitation is fraught with risk.

The main concerns of the D.P.G are to work towards long term changes that will provide a safer environment for our primates. Rescue and rehabilitation is an aspect of this but until better circumstances exist for our wildlife, rehabilitation remains a band aid for a much deeper problem.

The following article was written after I'd rehabilitated Gismo - an orphan - back into the wild in 1998. At the time, the only options that were presented to me by the rehabilitation centre where he'd come from, were to take him to the centre once the fostering period was over. This would have ensured he would be put together with other babies and would remain there for years.

Some baboons have been there for over twenty years living in an enclosure. Unable to accept this captivity option, I looked elsewhere, determined to find a way to return him back into the wild. The story below was published after the release. Not having had much experience at the time, the success of this rehabilitation is something Gismo and I owe entirely to the baboon troop who accepted him. (One rehabilitator who I had hoped to be able to ask about things, had been called away to work, leaving Gismo and I to find our own way.)

I say this to illustrate the immense potential of this species to communicate across species barriers and direct the manner in which this release would go. It gave me an insight into baboon life that remains an exceptionally precious memory to this day.

I'd had no previous rehabilitation experience, had had no contact at all with the owner of the rehab centre who had passed him on to me, and had never visited this centre to see what they do. By following the troop's lead - the communication they made perfectly clear, every step of the release led to what was to become a life of freedom for Gismo. (This was monitored for a year after the release.)

Gismo and rehabilitation back into the Wild

Article published in Mail and Guardian 1998

By Karin Saks

Scientist George Schaller wrote of gorillas: "The eyes have a language of their

own - being subtle and of emotion that in no other visible way affects the

expressions of the animal. I could see hesitation and uneasiness, curiosity and

boldness and annoyance." He believed it was impossible to observe other species,

and especially other primates, without interpreting their behaviour in human

terms. After all, we humans are primates too.

I’d recently fostered Gismo - an orphaned baby

baboon - for almost eight months. I was delighted when Damian van Gas - a baboon rehabilitator at a reserve called Mosdene - gave me the opportunity to rehabilitate Gismo back into the

wild.

He would join a troop of baboons - comprised of 17 individuals - which had been

successfully released more than three years earlier. Rehabilitation, if successful, would

be the perfect answer to Gismo's uncertain future - previously there had been

suggestions that he be put into an enclosure at a rehab centre.

While it is necessary for a rehabilitator to interact with the baboons to some

extent, keeping them away from humans and their associations - dwellings,

vehicles, crops - is an important factor of rehabilitation. The Mosdene troop

had been released far from human habitation, they were protected by the privacy

of the reserve and had not proved to be "problematic". Most of them had

experienced the best and worst aspects of human behaviour, and were well aware

of the dangers they could pose.

The analysis of DNA molecules, which carry hereditary traits, has shown that

humans, chimpanzees and bonobos share more than 99% of the same make-up. But

until the 1960s science followed the lead of Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus,

who was initially responsible for placing humans and other primates in separate

categories. He later came to regret this decision and admitted having created a

separate slot for humans for the sake of the church, in spite of the fact that

he did not know of any generic characteristics separating humans and apes.

I found that human language, print and other media, as well as the dysfunctional

primate representatives held in captivity in zoos and research laboratories

proved inadequate when it came to painting a picture of baboon life. First-hand

interaction with the Mosdene troop and the inevitable consequences of the

rehabilitation process - developing relationships with individuals and observing

troop dynamics - gave me a totally different insight.

Shirley C Strum, an American anthropologist who spent more than a decade

observing an olive baboon troop, found she had to discard many of her academic

notions because they conflicted with the lessons the baboons themselves taught.

After spending time with the baboons, I realised that the fear of being

anthropomorphic - projecting human attributes on to animals who don't share

those attributes - severely stunts our perception of primate life. Ironically,

using human words as opposed to baboon language when describing baboon life is,

in itself, peculiarly anthropomorphic. Our closeness to other primates confuses

the issue further.

Because the study of the emotions and psychology of animals can be filled with

projections, these important areas were initially ignored by scientists (for the

sake of convenience) in favour of more accessible factual information. As a

result, science came to deny animals many of their most relevant attributes.

Ethologist Konrad Lorenz complained that "one of the most customary and

hackneyed objections to which ethologists have to listen is that humans are

unique". We humans are limited in truly grasping the psychological and emotional

lives of other species, due to our conceit and self- imposed status of

privilege. If it is anthropomorphic to attribute human characteristics to

animals, it is chauvinistic not to attribute human traits to animals who have

them.

Baboon language is expressed through a series of facial expressions, sounds and

gestures punctuated with emotion - a system ranging in intensity that is

uncannily similar to our own non-verbal communication. Because of this shared

understanding, it soon became effortless to interact with individuals in the

troop. I learnt to adopt social strategies in much the same way that the baboons

did to achieve their goals within the complex hierarchal structure of the group.

My motivation was a stressless release for Gismo.

Currently classified as "problem animals", baboons are not protected. Once

branded as "vermin", they have been indiscriminately shot, poisoned, trapped for

use in laboratories and culled. If, as many people seem to believe, conservation

must first serve the betterment of humans, we have to deny our dependent,

symbiotic relationship with animals - a separatist attitude that will surely

destroy ourselves along with all else. How can it not?

The rehabilitation of baboons can teach us much about the rehabilitation of more

endangered primates. Yet how stable is the population of baboons? The Convention

on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) lists baboons under

Appendix II, which means they are regarded as a species that could become

endangered if trade is not controlled. But in spite of the strict requirements

imposed by Cites, no monitoring of baboon populations and their habitat is done

in South Africa.

As a result of ignorance, baboons are progressively facing eradication. The

general apathy about this state of affairs was illustrated when Minister of

Environmental Affairs and Tourism Pallo Jordan gave the go-ahead last year for

the exportation of more than 80 baboons to French pharmaceutical company Sanofi.

Rehabilitation is a necessary procedure to counteract the destructive impact of

human interference in the natural world. Having had little interaction with his

own kind, Gismo at first resisted becoming a full member of the Mosdene troop,

although many of the individuals persisted in changing this. As the days passed,

he gained confidence and formed stronger, sustainable bonds, and eventually -

after nine days of slow interaction - assumed the full mantle of baboon life.

I parted with him confident that his social and nutritional needs were finally

being met. He was consistently engaged in mutual grooming, bonding and play

activities. He'd been adopted into a sub-group and now had a mother, Dotty, and

three of her consort partners - the paternalistic Grobler, Rat and Alfred E -

for fathers. Added to these "family" figures were a number of juvenile

playmates, as well as a few adult allies. He'd quickly picked up the

communicative skills required for smooth interaction.

Today, Gismo is a fully accepted member, surviving alongside his own kind, free

in the wild.

This article has been published and may not be redistributed or republished in any form whatsoever

without prior written consent

Shifting Primate Perceptions by Karin Saks

2008-05-30T05:03:00.003+02:00

Shifting Primate Perceptions

SHRINKING EDENS DRIVE A WEDGE BETWEEN MAN AND HIS FELLOW PRIMATES

Karin Saks and Rhiannon

THE INDIAN SUN

1 june-14 june 2007

business&economy

By Karin Saks

Precious and enduring lessons have come my way during my time spent with our close primate cousins. Whether Louis Leakey’s (the anthropologist who supported the work of Goodall, Fossey and Galdikas) view that women make better primate watchers than men is discriminatory or true, his premise that women are less likely to incite aggression in male primates is particularly valid. An understanding of the vastly different ways in which non-human primates relate to men

and women is necessary for developing a clear conception of primate behaviour.

An orphaned baboon named Gismo, whose mother had been shot, was brought to me in 1997. Before he was old enough to be rehabilitated back into the wild, I cared for him as surrogate mother. Even at that young age, he related to men and women differently, thus teaching my male partner and myself how to parent him in

ways that placed us in different roles.

Eight months later, it was time to release Gismo into a wild troop. For the first time, I was exposed to the complex social life of wild baboons as they accepted me as mother of the newcomer. I watched how male aggression, provoked by the presence of men, changes the behaviour of the troop, showing the observer a particular facet of behaviour that tends to dominate the whole. How did this effect

the conclusions drawn by male primatologists, and which primate studies were necessary to gain a full impression of primate behaviour? I decided to read both, and along with all that the baboons taught, draw my own conclusions.

With enormous generosity of spirit, Gismo’s new baboon friends directed the release process, aware of our reasons for being there. A crash course in baboon language was necessary to the success of

the release; I read the clues each individual offered while forming a relationship with my foster child. What they showed about the inner nature of wild primates changed my life; it was the start of a long

process where I imperceptibly touched a lost part of the self – a part lost through civilisation and our self imposed separation from the rest of Nature.

After nearly a decade along this primate path, I believe that the Vervet (monkeys) and Chacma (baboons) have further aided my understanding of our relationship to the environment, culminating in the theory that we are not one species above but one species

amongst all others, and that conservation when focusing simply on serving people and less on biodiversity is unlikely to achieve

successful long term initiatives. A feminine perspective of the environment is still less apparent than a male one. Developing poorer countries where socio-economic, or religious and cultural factors have influenced the scarcity of African and Asian women in

primate conservation in the past, have been fortunate in having the knowledge of Leakey’s “angels”.

Since democracy in 1994, South Africa has been slowly moving away from a patriarchal society. The battle to eradicate poverty and remove inequity jostles for top position with environmental degradation and the effects of global warming.

Floods and droughts brought about through climate change have found wildlife struggling to adapt to changing ecosystems that are also responsible for rural Africans increasingly moving to towns,

highlighting the fragile relationship between humankind and eco-systems. In areas where humans live side by side with wild animals, and resources are competed for, ongoing conflict between humans and wild animals has escalated. The Vervet monkey and Chacma Baboon are merely two species that continue to be shot, poisoned and captured as human habitats encroach further on their territories.

These primates are listed on Appendix two of C.I.T.E.S., yet their populations are not officially monitored; reports reveal escalating damage to troop structures as well as dwindling numbers. If this trend

continues, our primates face extinction.

Amongst the troops in my area, where male baboons are targeted by humans, there appears to be a severe skew in the adult male/female ratio, a factor responsible for a negative ripple effect throughout all baboon society here as well as their relationship to their human neighbours.

The war between humans and baboons began when the Dutch arrived on the Cape Peninsula in 1652. Prior to this, the

indigenous Khoisan people existed peacefully with their wild neighbours. They understood baboon language, learnt about

medicinal plants from them and never killed them for food. In order to halt the destruction of our primate populations here, we need to revert back to harmonious co-existence with wildlife. Having lived in three different homes that were raided by baboons, I’ve come to understand that co-existence is possible, that tolerance and understanding is integral to constructive change. And the view that we are blessed to still live alongside our wild neighbours is important to understanding our human relationship to the rest of Nature from which we are separated.

Since 1997, Karin Saks has been involved in the rehabilitation of orphaned and injured baboons and monkeys and has worked

towards a harmonious co-existence between these primates and humans. The book, Life With Darwin, released in 2003 by Penguin

Books and written by Dutch author, Fransje van Riel outlines Karin’s work.

THE INDIAN SUN

1 june-14 june 2007

business&economy

GARBAGE DUMPS and Our Baboon Proof bin.

2008-05-15T20:09:00.005+02:00

GARBAGE DUMPS LIKE THIS ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST REASONS THAT MONKEYS

AND BABOONS ARE ATTRACTED TO HUMAN AREAS:

OUR GARBAGE BABOON PROOF BIN BELOW WHICH WILL DETER ALL WILDLIFE:

Made to Order for those along The Garden Route:

Volunteer - Monitor our Wild Troops.

2008-05-13T19:32:00.006+02:00

Meet one of our wild baboon troops and one of our vervet troops:
These two video clips show two of our wild troops nearby.

As a volunteer you will be shown how to find these troops, and monitor them.

For more information, please contact us.

Landscapes in this area. For visitors.

2008-05-13T19:11:00.002+02:00

Where to Take an Orphaned or Injured vervet monkey.

2008-05-13T09:52:00.020+02:00

There are two monkey hotlines based in Kwa Zulu Natal. If you find an injured or orphaned vervet monkey or baboon, please contact one of these organisations who will put you in touch with someone in your area who can help.

THE MONKEY HELPLINE PROJECT is based in Westville near Durban and run by Carol Booth and Steve Smith. Their contact details are:
Carol at carol@animalrightsafrica.org or Steve at steve@animalrightsafrica.org , or on 082 411 5444 or 082 659 4711 respectively.

Primates Africa is a country wide organisation working towards helping our primates.

Contact the MONKEY HOTLINE above for advice on where to find your closest rehabilitation centre or any other advice needed.

Commonly asked Questions:

Why can't I release an orphan myself?

There are far, far more failed rehabilitation attempts that have been documented than successful ones.

INFANTICIDE: WHEN INFANTS GET KILLED.

Releasing an orphan is likely to end in infanticide unless specific criteria are followed. Please don't ever attempt this. The safest option is for an orphan to be integrated slowly and carefully into a troop that has been formulated by a rehabilitation centre. If you consider the complex troop structure of a wild group where blood relations are likely to define the closest alliances and matrilines are arranged according to a hierarchy, it is possible to understand to some extent, how difficult it is to integrate one unrelated primate into a wild troop. One unrelated primate without family or other alliances in a natural troop where rank is important to your ability to make social bonds, have access to the best food and higher ranking animals, is unlikely to be accepted without an enormous amount of time and effort spent on the rehabilitator's part.

Amongst baboons in the Cape, living close to human habitats, infanticide is common when new males move into a troop and kill. There are varying opinions about infanticide in vervets, but it is thought to sometimes occur in high stress human areas and is unlikely to exist in troops not pressurised by human intervention. Personally - never having witnessed infanticide in vervets, I tend to think that it does occur but because vervets are more difficult to observe than baboons, it is seen less regularly. (Observers report finding infant corpses without having witnessed an actual infanticide event). This kind of behaviour is likely magnified - if not evoked at times- by our interference - increasing human development.

Releasing an orphan into a troop without any monitoring of the dynamics, psychology, history of the whole group and each relationship to the newcomer, is akin to signing the death warrant for the orphan you are wanting to help.

BABOONS - co-existence. DPG pamphlet in Afrikaans.

2008-05-12T13:38:00.002+02:00

Click on the pamphlet to enlarge:

CO-EXISTENCE- BABOONS. DPG PAMPHLET ENGLISH.

2008-05-12T13:34:00.005+02:00

Click on the pamphlet to enlarge:

CO-EXISTING WITH VERVETS:

2008-05-11T10:13:00.004+02:00

PRIMATES IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

Towards A Harmonious Co-existence.

INTRO:

As development continues to encroach onto wild habitats, people choosing to live in semi-natural environments – farms, smallholdings, seaside villages etc. are increasingly needing to find environmentally friendly ways of co-existing with wild animals and flora in order to preserve and rehabilitate the natural bio-diversity.

It’s common to assume that primate numbers are not threatened.

Age-old myths serve to justify the persecution of these animals by certain sectors of society (the farming and hunting communities for example), and sightings of baboons and monkeys are generally not considered rare.

As a result, it is widely assumed that primates are not potentially threatened. This is an important misconception.

In spite of many primates living in low predator areas, they get shot, poisoned, electrocuted, killed by dogs, caught in snares and trapped for research laboratories and muthi.

Over the years, troops have declined in numbers and troop structures are consistently damaged due to ongoing human developments.

Damage done to troop structures by human intervention is a factor less understood yet as - if not more - important to our primate societies - and their relationship to human habitats - than shrinking numbers. Primates are social animals; a group of individuals who work together as a cohesive system - a loss of any individual impacts on the group to some degree or another.

The Vervet Monkey and Chacma Baboon fall under appendix two of CITES (Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species) as species considered to be at risk of extinction if populations are not monitored. Those who work hands-on with these two species generally accept that there is indeed evidence of serious damage done due to human intervention and that if this trend continues, these primates face eradication.

MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT VERVETS:Deterrent to try: vervets once, they see a deterrent has no threat, will ignore it. Try shaking a brightly coloured feather duster at monkeys or hang them in your window.

Wild vervets do NOT attack people or pets as is commonly thought. Any wild animal - or even human - will understandably defend themselves when attacked though.

Stories of vervets attacking people are usually about dysfunctional cases where the monkey was kept as a pet. Even in these cases vervets only bite - as a last resort to tell you "no" - when you have crossed their boundaries. If you respect their ways and needs, attack does not occur.

Vervets will threaten (bobbing, staring, loud chattering etc.) any person or other animal they regard as an immediate threat to their safety or that of a fellow troop member, but these threats are intended merely to warn off a possible aggressor and are not carried through to actual attack.

Vervets may be forced to bite in self-defense if they are attacked.

Concerns that Vervets will bite children who encounter them in the garden or home are unfounded. The many children who encounter wild vervets every day do not get bitten. Parents can help by educating their children to exhibit passive body language (don't stare etc.) and not tease or feed wild vervets. This also offers the opportunity to teach children about co-existing in a harmonious way with wild animals (and the environment we all live in) with whom we have come to share a territory as human development increases.

If we use passive body language, leave them alone and don't carry or eat food in front of them, co-existence becomes a welcome experience, enabling us to watch these closely related fascinating primates from a safe distance.

Vervets do NOT transmit diseases!

Fears that Vervets are carriers of rabies or other infectious diseases that can be transmitted to humans are unfounded. Like us, vervets are primates - if they carried rabies, we would be carriers too. Any mammal is able to contract rabies though.

TO DETER VERVETS OFF YOUR PROPERTY, TRY THESE METHODS:

- Use your hosepipe to squirt them. You can reach them on your roof, in the trees and at a distance when they are on the ground. Pointing a hosepipe with water at a wild primate is seen as confrontational to them and gives the message that they are not wanted on your territory/property.

- Try to make every attempt not to allow vervets inside your home to retrieve food for the first time they do this, they will think they can return to do it again. If a vervet does get inside, wait for them to leave and ensure that there is an escape route. Don't attempt to take food away from them, or tease or provoke them. Showing them that it is your territory and they are not welcome is an acceptable natural law for them so if a vervet does try to threaten (raising eyebrows/bobbing and staring), understand that this is merely intimidation and stand your ground. The next time they come round, try to shoo them away before they get close to the house so that they learn they cannot advance that far.

- A water pistol aimed and squirted at the monkeys - from a safe distance - inside or close to your house is very effective. Never corner a monkey which will cause it to panic and react. Vervets are easily shooed away simply by walking towards them and waving a small towel or other similar item.

- A piece of hose, with holes in it, swung around whilst advancing towards Vervets will frighten them away.

- Don’t be intimidated if they stand their ground and threaten you. They will turn and run as you get closer; we are much bigger than they are - an important factor as far as body language is concerned.

Don’t stare directly at a Vervet – they threaten one another by staring and your stare could be considered threatening.

- If you feel threatened by a Vervet, do not turn your back on him. Back away slowly whilst continuing to face him, while not staring him in the eye for longish periods of time.

- Monkeys are naturally wary of snakes, so realistic rubber snakes placed around your home or garden can discourage them, don’t leave a rubber snake in the same spot too long otherwise the Vervets will realize it is not real. Attach a length of fishing gut to the snake and make it move when the Vervets are close by so that they are confused into thinking it may be real and a threat.

- Pointing a gun-like object at them will usually send them scurrying away - water gun pistols found in toy shops are an example to try.

- Some people have had much success by putting up day-glo orange coloured cardboard circles that are attached to fishing gut and allowed to move. If you paint two black holes to look like eyes it has even more effect.

DOGS:

- Dogs can be a deterrent to Vervets. However, if a dog does actually catch a Vervet this could result in very serious injury to the dog and Vervet.

Dogs should be trained not to physically attack the Vervets.

In rural areas where we share our territory with wild animals, it is best to train dogs not to chase any wildlife both for our sakes and the health of the environment. Responsible pet owners do this.

GENDER DIFFERENCES:

- Vervets fear men more than they do women, so wherever possible the Vervets should be chased away by men. When you do this, ensure children or others are not nearby.

ELECTRIC FENCING IS THE MOST EFFICIENT METHOD FOR DETERRING WILD PRIMATES:

- One or two strands of Electric fencing are effective in keeping Vervets out of gardens, homes and crops. This is very easy to install.

WINDOWS AND DOORS:

- Insect-proof screens on windows and doors serve an additional function of keeping Vervets out of homes. Plastic mesh is also easily fitted and very effective. This method allows air circulation.

VEGETABLES AND FRUIT:

- Although sight is the primary sense used by non-human primates, Vervets have a sensitive sense of taste and smell. They can be discouraged from eating fruit, flowers and vegetables by spraying or brushing these with a liquid containing quinine, chilli, insect or pet repellant or any other distasteful but non-lethal substance that can be washed off. Dry curry, chilli or tobacco powder also works well in flower beds.

GARBAGE:

- Prevent foraging in refuse bins by securing the lids with convenient but Vervet-proof clip or strap.

Sprinkle Jeyes Fluid inside, on the outside or around refuse bins and bags.

Refuse boxes covered with shade cloth and treated with Jeyes Fluid will deter Vervets.

MORE DETERRANTS TO TRY:

- Install a burglar alarm siren in a tree and activate it when the Vervets are there. This can prevent Vervets using the tree to gain access to a roof, upper window or another tree, and can protect fruit and flowers.

- Use nylon bird or hail netting over and around vegetable, strawberry and other produce gardens to keep Vervets out.

- Tin cans containing a few stones and tied at intervals along a length of string which is attached to a fixed point and yanked hard when the monkeys are close will chase monkeys out of a vegetable garden or flower bed as the cans leap noisily into the air.

- Clear grease smeared onto overhead wires, along the tops of boundary walls and fences, on down-pipes, well-used branches and poles will discourage Vervets from using these to gain access to areas such as your roof, balcony, etc.

- Where Vervets easily use overhead telephone or other wires to gain access to roofs, fit a length of hard plastic piping around the wire at the point where the Vervets access it. As they put weight on the plastic pipe it rolls around the wire so making it impossible for them to climb across it,

WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE TO DETER THEM FROM YOUR PROPERTY?

If Vervets visiting your property are a problem to you, make every effort not to leave any food around that will encourage them. This applies both inside and outside your home.

Some examples are:

- Dog or cat food left out all day, will be eaten by Vervets.

- If you feed the wild birds in your garden, try to do so at random times so that there is no routine that the Vervets can get accustomed to, otherwise they will be there waiting for you each day.

- Vervets will enter homes to eat fruit and other food kept on counters, sideboards, tables, etc. Keep fruit and other food concealed when Vervets are about.

- If your house is left unattended, doors and windows should be kept closed or only slightly ajar so as to prevent Vervets from gaining access.

More About Our Primate Populations:

2008-05-11T09:49:00.003+02:00

As a naturalist focussing on the plight of the Chacma Baboon and Vervet Monkey in the Western Cape, South Africa, I have strong reason to believe that there is an urgent need to halt the ongoing damage done to our primate populations. I have been observing the troops in this area for the last six years.

Development continues to encroach onto wild habitats; people choosing to live in semi-natural environments – farms, smallholdings, seaside villages etc. increasingly need to find environmentally friendly ways of co-existing with wild animals and flora in order to preserve and rehabilitate the natural bio-diversity.

It is common to assume that primate numbers are not threatened. Age-old myths serve to justify the persecution of these animals by certain sectors of society (the farming and hunting communities for example), and sightings of baboons and monkeys are generally not considered rare.

As a result, it is widely assumed that primates are not threatened. This is an important misconception.

In spite of many primates living in low predator areas, they get shot, poisoned, electrocuted, killed by dogs, caught in snares and trapped for research laboratories and muthi

.BLINDED

KILLED BY ROTTWEILER

After checking out the pylons around here and the vervet injuries, it is clear that PYLONS pose a big threat to vervets in the area.

CRUEL METHODS USED

- GIN TRAPS, POISONING, BOW AND ARROW, HUNTING DOGS. PELLET GUNS, GUNS ETC:

Extremely cruel methods to kill are often used by certain sectors of society who believe so called "problem animals" pose a threat to their livelihood. Over the years, troops have declined in numbers and troop structures are damaged.

To put it simply, humans are creating dysfunctional primate societies when primate territory is encroached on.

DWINDLING NUMBERS:

Reports of troops with 200-300 individuals (eg. Eugene Marais – “My Friends The Baboons” or Vincent Carruther’s book; The Magaliesberg) no longer exist; there is proof that both the baboon and monkey have suffered dwindling numbers. Old reference books state the vervet monkey was common, and could be found in most parts of South Africa. It is recorded, that they lived in large troops, of between a hundred and twenty to a hundred and fifty members strong. Older generations claim that, years ago, you could find vervets everywhere. Today they are no longer regularly sighted here. The area in which I live, shows signs of unusually small troops (below five individuals per troop) who are rarely spotted. Residents do report of local vervets visiting their properties but generally, the area between Plettenberg Bay and Bloukrans Pass appears to have damaged vervet populations that desperately need to be monitored before we can find get to a realistic idea of what is really happening to primates here.

Anyone who has information about vervet and baboon populations and troop structures noted in your area, can help by contacting us so we can formulate a better idea of how these species along the Garden Route are faring. Your insight will be much appreciated to help us with our goals for helping these primate species.

Things to look for are: how many individuals in the troop.

Adult male to female ratios.

Number of injuries and types of injuries.

Behaviour amongst group members.

Behaviour towards humans - in cars and houses.

You can contact me at: karinsaks@gmail.com

STATUS OF OUR PRIMATES

2008-05-11T09:29:00.004+02:00

TBoth the Vervet Monkey and the Chacma Baboon fall under Appendix 2 of CITES, indicating their potential for becoming extinct if the path of destruction that continues to plague these species, is not halted.

In spite of this classification, these two primate species are not monitored officially in South Africa except in the Cape Peninsula where numbers have dropped so low they are considered critically endangered.

Here, development has blocked off these troops magnifying the escalating conflict between humans and baboons.

There is an urgent need for vervet and baboon populations to be monitored to assess their present condition. Outdated information about populations is commonly used to justify their persecution.

In the Western Cape, these primates are presently persecuted with the backing of a piece of legislation called the Hunting Proclamation.

Volunteer With Us.

2008-05-11T09:11:00.009+02:00

We are situated in The Garden Route - one of the most sought after tourist destinations in South Africa. It is a place of exceptional beauty and contrast offering numerous holiday activities. We are twenty kilometres away from Plettenberg Bay.

Those who would like to volunteer with us, please contact Karin at: karinsaks@gmail.com for more information.

Volunteers are not only needed to help with the vervet troop in our care, but are needed to monitor wild baboon and vervet troops in the area. Little is known about wild monkey and baboon troops along the Garden Route. Some projects that need assistance are:

1. A management plan to offer local tourist establishments about harmonious co-existence with wild primates and other wildlife in the area.

2. Data on troop structures in this area.

3. Diet of both baboons and monkeys in this area.

4. Anti-poaching programs to establish where snaring is a growing problem.

5. Website help and fundraising.

Other:
Articles on primate related issues for local publications.
Handing out pamphlets at relevant hot spots.
Talking to schools about the plight of primates in South Africa.

ALTERNATIVE FORAGING STATIONS:

2008-05-11T08:50:00.011+02:00

This concept is highly controversial and has been adopted by certain organisations in an attempt to confront the very real danger faced by our vervet populations due to human intervention. Hopefully residents who consider this option, will do so as a last resort when all else fails.

I cannot underestimate how important it is that if one chooses to use a feeding station, it has to be done responsibly, taking all relevant aspects into account (see below)

Vervets are seasonal eaters; they go where trees are in season at certain times of the year. When these plants are not in season, they move on to places where food is more available.
Human homes that have exotic fruits, compost heaps, vegetable gardens etc. will be viewed by vervets in a "seasonal" way too. If the food source is removed, it is pretty much like an indigenous plant that has gone out of season and the vervets will then have reason to move on.

Baboons and monkeys have foraging routes. If your home happens to be situated along their daily foraging route, its attractions may well be included in their daily diet along with the wild indigenous foods that they forage for where humans are not living.

Some people report how often they see monkeys or baboons during weekends or holidays - as if these prmates know what times of year and week are more profitable as far as getting food from humans is concerned. In an area where I live, which is a high tourist area, it certainly does seem that camp sites - for example- are included as seasonal feeding sites amongst non-human primates, in much the same way that seasonal indigenous fruits/seeds and grasses are.

The logic behind the concept of feeding stations is that:

Human properties provide unnatural food sources for monkeys to eat.
Feeding stations simply replace these unnatural food sources that are already there, offering the monkeys an alternative to raiding the unnatural food source that the humans want for themselves.

A feeding station needs to created in a way that doesn't contribute to unhealthy primate populations or increased birth rates.

Unless humans are prepared to do away with all unnatural food sources that they provide for baboons and monkeys who share the ame territory, then it makes sense that establishing a feeding station will simply replace the unnatural food already on the property.

Some commonly asked questions:

1. Can we not simply ask all humans to make sure they have no non-natural food sources on their properties, so that monkeys and baboons will be encouraged to only survive on wild foods?

The reality so far has proved that most people are unwilling to adapt their lifestyles to accommodate wild animal neighbors. As long as exotic fruit trees, vegetable gardens, compost heaps, garbage bags and open windows are part of the landscape, non-human primates will consider human properties as areas along their natural foraging route and help themselves to these food sources.

They are unlikely to view human habitats as separate from their territories considering that we have encroached on what was once their territory alone.

2. Won't feeding sites create an increase in the birth rate - primates who eat from garbage dumps have been known to increase birth rates?

- The good thing about a feeding site is that the food offered is controlled whereas at a garbage dump, it is not. Feeding stations are not a substitute but rather they supplement the diet when resources are low. Observations have shown that monkeys tend to feed at these sites only when necessary and do not become dependant on them as a substitute to wild food.

3.Will they not attract the monkeys into human areas?

- The goal of a feeding site is to attract the monkeys who are already living in human areas to a place where they are safe. If they have the choice to feed from a safe feeding station rather than on a property where the humans are very hostile, they will choose the feeding station and by doing so lessen the chances of getting hurt.

The information about feeding sites has been formulated based on long term research done by various primate naturalists.

When considering this option, it is vital to go about it in a responsible manner that does not associate humans feeding the monkeys. Putting out food for wild monkeys can be easily done when they are not around and are not hiding in trees where they can't be seen.

If residents are unable to follow this - and the temptation to bond with monkeys using food is too great, this method is best not used, for it may impact negatively on the perceived "problem" situation.

Feeding by hand has vastly different consequences to feeding stations, alternative feeding sites or wildlife restuarants whereby feeding needs to be carefully monitored with no human association.

When you hand a favourite fruit - for example - to a baboon or monkey, you are suggesting a subordinate position for in a wild troop only those at the top of the hierarchy have first access to favourite foods. Once you have given your power away, the monkey or baboon may begin to push boundaries, expecting more, and this is when people panic and react impulsively.

Please don't initiate this process with any wild primate, by feeding by hand.

(An extensive knowledge of baboon or monkey language would be required to gain back your power and enlist the primate's respect once again.)

BABOONS ON THE CAPE PENINSULA:

The baboon populations on the Cape Peninsula are an example of baboons that have been forced into close contact with humans by development that has cut them off from other areas. Their natural resources are low and they have adapted to getting food from human properties.

All too often this population - because of the studies done there - is used to understand other baboon populations where circumstances are different.

The Cape Peninsula baboons are a good example of what occurs when development increases on natural habitats to the extent it cuts off wild populations from moving away.

It is necessary for those of us who live in areas where this situation is still possible to confront, to understand the Cape Peninsula Baboon/human conflict and the damage caused, so that we can prevent our baboon populations from being forced into the same problems.

Update on legislation in 2008

2008-05-11T08:40:00.004+02:00

Although we hoped that legislation would be restructured in the Western Cape to adapt to the requirements of the N.E.M.B.A (National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act) as mentioned in a previous post, it is now 2008 and the Hunting Proclamation in the Western Cape still allows our indigenous vervet and baboon to be persecuted without protection in rural areas where these species free roam, surviving precariously in areas adjacent to increasing human development.

More on the babies:

2008-05-04T12:33:00.003+02:00

Diddy Kong and Ozzie were instantly accepted by Oscar - a wild, adult male (who was here for healing after being hit by a car - see his story elsewhere on the blog
Koko (front) and Ozzie comfort Nakedi on his first day here
At fist Nakedi preferred the company of Phoenix

Diddy Kong - the most influential - grows up

Meet more of the group.

2008-05-04T12:18:00.002+02:00

Kennedy in front and Ozzie behind Koko

Diddy Kong, Mango, Kennedy, Ozzie and Koko
Koko the day he arrived

Video of babies on 3rd May08. Intro to the group.

2008-05-04T11:37:00.007+02:00

Ozzie upon arrival

Diddy Kong soon after he arrived

Mango when he arrived - a different looking infant!

Between November 2007 and January 2008, six orphaned infants were brought to me to join the D.P.G troop. There are signs of a definite hierarchy amongst them; who has access to favourite foods first, who gets blamed when there is conflict and re-directed aggression takes place and who has the most impact on influencing troop behaviour.

Interestingly this particular group have a hierarchy that is based on who arrived first as well as size.

Diddy Kong, a young male of about 7 months, leads. He has a calm, accepting and friendly disposition, relying on his closest ally - Mango - to sort out most disputes for him. He is the most playful and the most adventurous.

Although Ozzie - the only female - was next to arrive, she is closest to Kennedy who is number four in the male group. She and Kennedy groom each other, defend each other and spend most of their time together. While Kennedy does not like people wearing sunglasses, Ozzie is completely fascinated by them and will stare at her reflection in them for ages, touching the lenses.

Ozzie was barely alive when she arrived. She'd been alone in a bush for at least two days when a couple out walking heard her cries. They found no sign at all of her mother or troop. Today she is healthy and happy but still expresses a fair amount of insecurity which appears to be related to her trauma at birth time.

Mango looked different from the start. His face was dark, his eyebrows prominent and his fur was yellow, but as he has grown, he looks more and more like a vervet. He is the most agile in the group, sometimes with interesting spider like movements, he moves through trees exceptionally quickly.

Although Diddy Kong is 'baby leader", he tends to cling to Mango for support when he is insecure rather than the other way round. These two are always the first to try anything new. And when a favourite food is too scarce to go round, Mango will ensure that only he and Diddy are the only two allowed to eat.

Koko is the next male in the heierarchy. Like the others, he has distinct characteristics that are his alone - both physically and psychologically. His fur is pale, his limbs are long and his eyes and ears big in relation to his head. He tends to stand and bob if there is potential danger, long before anyone else does.

Kennedy and Nakedi are both confiscated pets. Both of them took about two months to settle in, expressing some trauma at being taken away from their simian families and perhaps their human families. It is hard to know what their history is but both exhibted similar psychological traits. They're both fully integrated into the troop today. Kennedy acts as Ozzie's partner.

Nakedi is the youngest and smallest. He still has a fair amount of baby fur. When he first arrived, the others did their best making him welcome by cuddling him and paying him a lot of interest but for some weeks although he accepted their gestures he seemed a bit scared of monkeys and preferred the company of our companion cat.

After a month he began to play with the others and seems completely integrated today.

The Monkeys at play - April 2008

2008-04-25T13:03:00.006+02:00

The aspects unseen in this video are those interactions between myself - mother and film maker - and the babies seen here. For the first time Ozzie, Diddy and Kennedy jumped onto my shoulder to look into the view finder of the camcorder where they saw what I was filming, this being one of their siblings playing and jumping.

It is always fascinating to watch monkeys or baboons watching a tv screen, especially when the view is primate related. Even when there is a male or female presenter on a tv screen, a foster baby baboon or monkey watching will communicate depending on the gender of the presenter. Different verbal sounds are used for males and females whether they are non human primates or human.

These babies are between 5 and 6 and half months old now.

The D.P.G orphaned babies - April 2008.

2008-04-21T18:24:00.002+02:00

A very special monkey who I had the privelege of knowing for short while.

2008-04-20T16:11:00.012+02:00

OSCAR AFTER BEING RELEASED, ACTED AS PROTECTOR THE BABY ORPHANED VERVETS HERE - IN THIS PICTURE: OSCAR WITH OZZIE ON HIS BACK.

For those who have asked:

Every monkey or baboon that comes here is treated as an individual case.

Wherever possible, a monkey or baboon needs to be with their own kind as soon as possible. But with these social animals, when it is not possible, it is unacceptable to leave an injured monkey for a long period entirely alone - this will lead to mental trauma.

Orphaned babies need nurturing and if left alone at this crucial development stage for long periods, will likely be traumatized for life.

In this case, where Oscar was an adult wild monkey male, I was amazed how once he had come round from the shock, he seemed completely accepting to go with what was required for his full recovery and this relied on as little stress as possible.

Putting him in a cage was unacceptable to him. If I had needed to take him to a vet, I am sure he would not have made it past the first day for being confined in a veterinary surgeon's practice with the smells and sights of predators would have added enormous stress.

The necessary unconfrontational body language was used to calm him during his first days and once he was over the shock and secure, he clearly asked to be groomed and touched, needing social contact.

Once he was well enough to climb, I monitored his progress in the forest but he never fully regained the movement in his back leg. However within a couple of months he was extremely mobile in the trees. He had nerve damage and at first had no movement from the hip down. After being hit by the car, he had stayed in the middle of the road, his head upright and his eyes terrified, watching cars whizzing past him while unable to move.

His recovery was long. But he did recover and go back to the wild as an agile, strong male, albeit with one slow leg.

While he had formed a relationship with us, he was untrusting of any strange human that came onto the property and would warn us in much the same way as he did when seeing a strange predator.

The balance between offering him the social needs he required while ensuring he did not become too "humanised", had been achieved.

After saying that, most species require as little human contact as possible when injured and with primates the wrong body language would not be beneficial to their recovery either.

Anyone coming across an injured or orphaned monkeys or baboon can help by contacting a respectable rehab center or experienced primate person if at all possible.

And the baby baboon that is shown in this video:

He is "Kamu" - a baby orphaned on a farm in the Western Cape where his mother was first shot then beaten to death while he clung to her.

He now is with other juveniles going through the rehabilitation process.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF ORPHANS

2008-04-08T02:06:00.002+02:00

In the moment there are six orphaned vervet babies in the center, five males: Diddy-Kong, Kennedy, Koko, Mango and Nakedi; and a girl: Ozzi. Karin will introduce them to you in following posts for this section. Keep an eye on their stories, leading them hopefully from tragic past to brighter future...

HANDLING CONFLICTS

2008-04-03T00:42:00.003+02:00

Discourage monkeys from coming into your home by placing rubber snakes, bright yellow or orange balls with painted big, black eyes or face masks in prominent/problem locations. Preferably these should be strung up so they can move in the breeze and should be relocated regularly.

Should you encounter a monkey in your house - don’t panic. The monkey is more afraid of what you are going to do to him than you are of the monkey. Walk quietly and slowly (don’t shout and wave your arms) behind the monkey allowing him to see you at all times. Use your presence to guide him to an open escape route. Keeping the monkey from panicking will surely save on broken glassware and general mayhem.

Contrary to popular belief, monkeys do not carry rabies but remember, any animal can be infected with the disease if bitten . . .

Aggression begets aggression . . . every cornered animal is dangerous. Instinctively, flight is preferred to fight but it is also instinctive for an animal to protect his own. During breeding season when mothers are carrying their young babies, the monkeys will be a lot more nervous than normal and aggression can be invoked far more quickly. Who would want it any other way!

Remember that in the animal world, sudden movement indicates attack, a show of teeth is a sign of aggression, direct eye contact is a challenge - be aware of your own body language when approaching any wild animal!

Wounds from fights and skirmishes are part of the natural course of events and we should not interfere - allow nature its way.

If you do come across an injured animal:

* remember it's traumatized and will behave accordingly

* approach the animal calmly and quietly

* call for rescue assistance if it is still mobile or retrieval is awkward

* keep the animal warm until medical assistance is available

PREVENTING CONFLICTS

2008-04-02T00:39:00.002+02:00

Don’t feed monkeys by hand or off verandas and window sills. This encourages them to approach you and your house and can escalate raiding and conflict. It is as difficult for a monkey to resist a ripe bunch of bananas on display on your table as it is for a child to resist candy in a candy store.

Don’t shoot monkeys with pellet guns, firearms or catapults or throw crackers at them. All of these activities are illegal and will lead to prosecution. In addition, they also serve to maim the animal leading to untold pain and suffering.

Don’t attempt to catch a baby monkey for a pet or ask someone to obtain one for you or accept one if offered to you. The troop is extremely protective of their young and capturing a baby invariable involves killing the baby’s mother and other monkeys aiding in their protection. Remember, baby monkeys may be cute and cuddly when small - but become difficult to handle as adults.

Don’t allow children to tease, shout or panic when around monkeys. Monkeys regard loud noises and sudden movement as aggression and are likely to retaliate in defence.

Don’t teach your dogs to chase and attack monkeys. If cornered by a dog the troop could retaliate and seriously injure your pet.

When smiling at their antics do not show your teeth or make direct eye contact for long periods of time. Facial expressions are particularly important in the communication of all primates and humans unknowingly communicate threats which may invoke aggressive response.

Remember that monkeys are not naturally aggressive towards us unless they have been provoked.

LIFE WITH DARWIN - AND OTHER BABOONS. BOOKS.

2008-03-29T01:28:00.001+01:00

Book about Karin's beginnings with primates - the first one, after whom her N.P.O. was named, was orphaned baboon, Darwin. The book, Life with Darwin by Fransje van Riel was publsihed by Penguin in 2003.

The Animal Gaze (left) by Wendy Woodward, published towards the end of 2008, critiques the work of Credo Mutwa, Eugene Marais, Linda Tucker, van Riel, Olive Schreinaer, Zakes Mda, Yvonne Vera, J.M Coetzee, and Saks amongst others and is an inspiring contribution to the growing wealth of information about non-human animals and our human relationship with them.

DPG MISSION STATEMENT

2008-03-26T00:14:00.000+01:00

The Darwin Primate Group seeks to raise awareness about the human/baboon conflict and human/monkey conflict in South Africa with the goal of finding constructive methods to protect these species from further damage caused by ongoing human development. Educating the public about co-existing harmoniously with the wild animals that share our territory is our first priority. Funding for this process is necessary to begin this project in a meaningful manner, to raise funding for further aims and to sustain this project for the future. Distributing pamphlets and newsletters, being available to speak to residents who choose to find peaceful ways to co-exist and to establish baboon walks to raise awareness would be our first step. Once we have that part of the project off the ground, we will continue with helping to establish wildlife monitor programmes where needed and will monitor the troops in the area to find out the extent of damage done to troop structures and populations, then work towards finding more methods to halt this.

ABOUT DPG AND THIS PAGE

2008-03-25T14:11:00.008+01:00

Welcome to the page about Darwin Primate Group: a registered non-profit organization for saving South African primates, specializing in injured and orphaned primates rescue and rehabilitation, monitoring wild troops, creating harmonious co-existence by confronting primate-human conflict and changing legislation to protect and not destruct.

Based in The Garden Route, Western Cape, South Africa, it was founded and is managed by Karin Saks, - naturalist and primatologist - focussing on the plight of the Chacma Baboon and Vervet Monkey. Complete mission statement and project proposal you can find in other posts of this section.

DPG listed as a part of other projects:

Please note that we are not affiliated to any organisation/business that trades in wild animals, offers them to the public to be petted, touched or exploited in any way at all and/or simultanously professes to be a sanctuary or rehabilitation centre for wildlife.

ETHICAL TOURISM:
The DPG only works closely with other organisations that place animals/wildlife as a priority. Sadly there are are many "awareness centres" and "sanctuaries" springing up in SA that are there to make a profitable income at the expense of the animals in their care/possession.

We ask you please to explore these issues when visiting tourist awareness animal centres. Does the centre breed wild animals? If so, what happens to the offspring? Where did the animals at the centre originate from? Were they bought from a breeder? Can the species that was bought ever be returned to the wild? If not, what is the point of breeding that species, when it only has the capacity to live a life in captivity to make more money for the person who "owns" the animal?

True rehabilitation of a persecuted species in South Africa definitely does not include the breeding and selling of these species. The reason for this is that finding safe release sites in South Africa for a persecuted species is extremely difficult and often impossible. To add to this challenge, the breeding of these animals merely ensures that the animal bred is highly likely to end up in captivity or shot.

Petting wild animals causes a range of problems - be aware of this when visiting any so called "sanctuary".

Asendle Trust http://www.asendletrust.org.

Asendle Trust, founded by Margaret Roestrof, and committed to raising funds for small, forgotten and misunderstood animals, is DPG's umbrella organization, which has made donating on-line possible, so you are more than welcome to visit their page to make a difference.

And of course - our biggest wish is to show you through understanding them how these creatures are worth our love and help, and make you realize that instead of fighting with them it's possible and ultimately better to learn how to live in peace with them. After all, they were here before we were..

THANKING FRIENDS OF DARWIN.

2008-01-10T10:16:00.003+01:00

And much appreciation to Ray Rockingham, Jill Pointer and Jen Norville for your generous contributions towards our work.

Volunteer for Primates in Africa - DARWIN PRIMATE GROUP D.P.G.

CO-EXISTING WITH BABOONS AND MONKEYS. PRESENTATION.

"Let Nature Take Its Course"

Harmonious Co-existence - Hyaenas and Humans

REHABILITATION IN SOUTH AFRICA - OBSTACLES AND SOLUTIONS.

URGENT APPEAL FOR ORPHANED BABOONS - WESTERN CAPE.

SNARES - WESTERN CAPE, GARDEN ROUTE.

HOME WILD BABOONS PLAYING WITH OUR REHABILITATED FREE ROAMING MONKEY TROOP.

BABOONS THAT RAID HUMAN PROPERTIES:

MONKEY BURNT TO DEATH IN KAGISO - May 30 2011

Monkey burnt to death in Kagiso

Comments on the new draft Policy on “DAMAGE CAUSING ANIMALS” - Jan 2011:

PET MONKEYS - WHAT TO DO.

The Argument Against Consumptive Sustainable Use:

Blogger Buzz: Blogger integrates with Amazon Associates

CO-EXISTING WITH BABOONS AND MONKEYS. PRESENTATION.

Cross - Species Love.

D.P.G. MONKEYS IN FOREST

Four Year Old Wild Female Baboon Grooms Adult Male Monkey.

The Nursery - Baby Orphans and their Surrogate Mothers. Feb 2010.

Wild Male Joins Our Monkeys Undergoing Rehabilitation.

UPDATE ON OUR MONKEYS - JAN 2010.

LIVING WITH BABOONS - FOR RESIDENTS.

New Orphans - December 2009.

INFANTICIDE AMONGST CHACMA BABOONS AND VERVET MONKEYS.

Another Monkey Dies in Nature's Valley.Nov. 09

Baboon or monkey proofing your home.

MISCONCEPTIONS – A THREAT TO OUR PRIMATES.

Snared Baboon - Trapped, Healed and Released. November 09

Baboons Still Being Killed in Nature's Valley.

My favourite group of wild baboons.

SNARES AND THE HORRIFIC CONSEQUENCES.

UPDATE ON OUR TROOP UNDERGOING REHAB.

PRIMATE FRIENDLY VEGETABLES AND FRUIT.

On Animals...

Art For Primates - hand painted t-shirts.

Art For Primates - signed prints from the book, Life With Darwin.

Monki running wild with her adopted baby.

Nichola and Katie - a week of volunteer life.

Baboons Captured for Research Laboraties - Article Animal Voice 2004.

Paintings by Karin Saks - B.A.F.A.

Latest Pics.- integrating new babies into the troop.

THE DAMAGE CAUSED TO TROOP STRUCTURES BY HUMANS.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU COME ACROSS WILD VERVET MONKEYS OR CHACMA BABOONS WHILE ON FOOT...

THE RAID - OCT 2ND. 2008.

Animal Experiments in South Africa

Our Surrounding Area

A walk to the gorge...to visit the place where leopards, caracal, porcupine, genet, honey badgers and wild baboons sleep...

Kajika - one who walks in silence..

GARETH PATTERSON

My neighboring baboons - BEHAVIOUR and power struggles.

UPDATE ON OUR DPG MONKEYS::

MONKEYS BEING ELECTROCUTED ALONG THE GARDEN ROUTE.

Cross- Species Relationships - CXPRESS 2004

First Rehabilitation- GISMO, 1998.

Shifting Primate Perceptions by Karin Saks

Shifting Primate Perceptions

SHRINKING EDENS DRIVE A WEDGE BETWEEN MAN AND HIS FELLOW PRIMATES

Karin Saks and RhiannonTHE INDIAN SUN

THE INDIAN SUN

GARBAGE DUMPS and Our Baboon Proof bin.

Volunteer - Monitor our Wild Troops.

Landscapes in this area. For visitors.

Where to Take an Orphaned or Injured vervet monkey.

BABOONS - co-existence. DPG pamphlet in Afrikaans.

CO-EXISTENCE- BABOONS. DPG PAMPHLET ENGLISH.

CO-EXISTING WITH VERVETS:

More About Our Primate Populations:

STATUS OF OUR PRIMATES

Volunteer With Us.

ALTERNATIVE FORAGING STATIONS:

Update on legislation in 2008

More on the babies:

Meet more of the group.

Video of babies on 3rd May08. Intro to the group.

The Monkeys at play - April 2008

The D.P.G orphaned babies - April 2008.

A very special monkey who I had the privelege of knowing for short while.

BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF ORPHANS

HANDLING CONFLICTS

Karin Saks and Rhiannon

THE INDIAN SUN